Major refurbishment work is well underway to upgrade Maldon and Burnham leisure centres to the tune of £2million.

Maldon District Council is spending £1.6m on the Blackwater Leisure Centre and £400,000 on the Dengie Hundred Sports Centre.

However, the work means that some services will be affected over the coming months including the closure of Maldon’s swimming pool from January 5 - March 27.

The council has suggested swimmers instead use either the public pools in Witham, South Woodham Ferrers or Colchester.

Maldon gym also closes from December 19 -27.

People who have gym and swimming membership will receive a discount on membership fees by Places for People Leisure, which runs the two centres.

Work on both centres started on October 27.

In Maldon, there will be pool hall refurbishments with an underwater hazard detection system installed, a brand new flume, improved poolside cafe, refurbished changing ‘village’, brand new sauna and steam room, new pool surround and new flooring.

Minor decoration work is currently underway at the Dengie centre, with the main work on the roof to be carried out in four or five weeks, depending on the weather.