A COMMUNITY leisure centre has been praised by a government minister for its 'pivotal role' as bosses try to secure vital funding.

The future of the charity-run Dalton Leisure Centre is in doubt after several attempts to apply for funding to cope with the effect of the coronavirus crisis were knocked back.

Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell has been working with the leisure centre to access cash after it lost 'hundreds of thousands of pounds' during the pandemic.

He praised the National Leisure Centre Recovery Fund, launched at the end of last year as a 'ray of light' for the centre in a virtual debate in the House of Commons.

Mr Fell asked sports minister Nigel Huddleston: "Dalton Community Leisure Centre in my constituency is badly in need of support.

"It is a fantastic organisation—a community-run charity with a devoted team led by Bernard McPeake—but Covid has hit it very hard, with losses running into the hundreds of thousands of pounds.

"It supports 17 schools and the national leisure centre recovery fund offers a ray of hope.

"What comfort can my honourable friend offer organisations like Dalton Leisure Centre that they will be supported by this scheme?"

The sports minister replied: "My honourable friend is absolutely right to highlight the pivotal role played by Dalton Community Leisure Centre, and indeed leisure centres up and down the country, in sustaining physical and mental health in their communities.

"That is precisely why we announced the fund.

"I cannot pre-empt the award that my honourable friend will be getting locally at this moment in time, but of course we know it will make a real impact for the reasons he articulated.

"Also, as we have said before, reopening sports facilities overall will be an absolute priority when the time comes to begin easing some of the current restrictions."

Last year centre director Mr McPeake wrote an open letter to Barrow Council chief executive Sam Plum urging the authority to provide urgent support grants to help the centre.

Mr McPeake said the centre had been 'hammered' by the pandemic and missed out on business support grants provided to similar facilities due to its status as a charity.