AN EXTRA £160,000 has been shelled out to repair the rotting roof at Bradford on Avon swimming pool.

Swimmers have been assured the additional work will not mean further closures for the pool, which has been plagued by problems in recent months.

In December it was shut for a month when a fire broke out in the sauna and in February it had to be closed for a month for essential repairs to the top part of the roof.

Louise Knox, a spokesman for West Wiltshire District Council, said: "We've always been aware that the top level of the roof was going to need replacing. When they stripped the roof it became clear that a lot more work was needed."

Workers discovered serious structural faults and rotting beams caused by a combination of the constant humidity and design of the roof.

Steel joists and the concrete frame were also damaged.

When news reached the council an urgent decision was made by leader Cllr Sarah Content to approve the extra money. Work is still ongoing and will take longer because it is being carried out in closed hours to avoid more disruption for swimmers.

Karen Webb, secretary of the Bradford on Avon swimming club, which uses the pool regularly, said she was pleased the council had acted quickly to fix the roof problems.

"We knew the roof had been poorly, for want of a better word, and I suppose it got to the point where it needed a lot of work," she said.

"It would be such a shame if Bradford lost its pool. For the residents and for the swimming club."

At a meeting on Wednesday councillors were informed of the urgent decision to approve the money. Cllr Janet Repton, who is also a Bradford on Avon town councillor, thanked the leader for her decision.

She said: "I am grateful to everyone concerned who sanctioned the money. It is a very popular pool and it would have been a tragedy if it had to close."

The money will be added to the council's capital spend budget for 2006/07.