Workington's new £11.3 million leisure centre will not be allowed to fall into disrepair, said Allerdale council leader Alan Smith.

He was responding to a plea for Councillor Mark Jenkinson for the authority to take a proactive approach to maintaining the building.

Coun Smith said: "We have got a showcase building in West Cumbria.

"We will be making sure that it's right.

"If anything goes wrong it will be put right.

"It's a five-star building and I want five-star service in there."

Coun Jenkinson said: "I have had a lot to say about the leisure centre but there's no denying it's an excellent building with some excellent facilities.

"I'm keen to see, given he subsidy that will be needed going forward, that we keep out foot on the pedal with GLL and that we take a proactive approach to maintenance work we haven't done in the past."

Coun Smith said he had been blown away by the standard of the centre, which opened on The Cloffocks at the weekend, and hoped it would bring lasting benefits to local sportsmen and women.

He said: "People are coming in their droves at the moment.

"It's good to see so many people coming in with smiles on their faces, young and old.

"I'm proud that we have been able to open a state-of-the-art leisure centre in Workington.

"I hope to see some of our future Olympic and Paralympic stars train in the only eight-lane swimming pool in Cumbria.

"They'll no longer have to travel out of the county to compete."

Allerdale council first declared an intention to build a new facility in 2012 and the first stage of the public consultation took place in May 2013.

The centre features the only eight-lane, 25m pool in the county and state-of-the-art gym equipment.

It also has a learner pool, fitness suites, a sports hall, a steam room and sauna, squash courts and outdoor 3G football pitches.

The pool area features 196 spectator seats.

GLL operates the centre on behalf of Allerdale Council under its Better brand.

Young members from Workington’s swimming club were the first to use the new pool on Saturday.

They were invited to jump over a ribbon and into the water to kick off the open weekend.

A formal official opening is likely to take place later this year.