CRICKLADE Leisure Centre is set to expand, after receiving a £70,000 funding boost.

The centre's future was left hanging by a thread earlier this year, as it faced closure by North Wiltshire District Council.

However, the Cricklade and District Community Association brokered a late deal to take it over in April.

Since then, visitor numbers have soared and the facility is back on a firm financial footing.

The district council has now agreed funding of up to £70,000 capital in next year's budget.

That will now allow the centre to upgrade and add further facilities.

The group has already opened a bar and café and introduced internet access.

CDCA chairman Gary Walker said the centre's future was looking healthy.

"It's going very well and we are due to show a surplus this year," he said. "The idea is to look at expansion.

"The centre is very quiet in the day, but at night you can't get any space in it.

"We will be meeting in the New Year to discuss how to move forward and we should have a good idea by April on what we are doing."

Mr Walker praised the district council for agreeing to give them the money, which seemed unlikely to happen only a matter of months ago.

"Their attitude last year was that we were getting a one-off, £50,000 payment and that was it," he said. "But they have seen sense now."

Membership of the centre now stands at about 700, with more expected to join after Christmas.

"Bearing in mind our catchment area is really only about 4,000 it is a massive membership," he said.

"This time last year we were fighting off the closure, so it has been a big turnaround for the centre.

"The people of Cricklade did what they promised and that was to support us.

"It just continues to grow."

Mr Walker said although they always believed it would be a success, the magnitude of it has surprised the entire group.

"We took over in April and it is just coming up to the end of our first eight months now and all is well," he said.

"We were bullish about how we could do it at the time, but I do have to say it has grown beyond all our expectations, which is brilliant."

The centre also received more than £3,000 from the Cricklade Fun Run in October.

That money will be spent on new equipment and furnishings.