A leisure centre has closed due to fears over 'rising cases of Covid-19', sparking anger among its users.

Folkestone Sports Centre, in Radnor Park Avenue, shut its doors to members on Tuesday and is not expected to open again until the New Year.

The closure is to keep 'staff and customers as safe as possible', a statement reads.

Sister sites The Well-Being Centre and Hawkinge Community Centre have also shut.

But member-of-five-years Pete Eastoe, 68, says he is "disgusted" at the way management handled the closure.

He said he was shocked when he arrived at the sports centre on Tuesday to be told it was closing within hours.

He said: "We were told that the manager Tessa Stickler had decided to close at 12pm until January 4, in order to look after her staff.

"All with no notice. A lot of people were disgusted with the way it has been done.

"The Prime Minister had said that gyms should remain open.

"I note that all other gyms in the area are still open.

"I am a long term member and have paid my monthly fee of £45 but been told that I may receive a voucher in future if they can afford it.

"Why, when the Government says to stay open and other gyms and leisure centres are continuing for their clients, can she do this?

"As this centre is the major sports complex in the Folkestone district, it does affect a huge amount of people."

Facilities at the centre include a swimming pool, fitness suite, indoor cycling studio, café, treatment rooms, ski and toboggan slopes, footgolf course and more.

Mr Eastoe - who usually makes use of the squash courts and gym - thinks it is important for people to be able to stay fit and healthy during the pandemic.

He also fears that many members will now leave for other gyms, and as a result Folkestone Sports Centre may never re-open.

A statement from the centre's general manager Tessa Stickler, said: "The decision to temporarily close the centre was taken by myself with the full support of our Trustees.

"As the infection rates in Folkestone were rising significantly over the last couple of weeks, this is something that we were very concerned about.

"Being in Tier 3 (at that time) meant that there were many activities which we could not open for public use.

"We had several of our staff who were shielding vulnerable household members or self-isolating as their children were being sent home from various schools where the virus cases were rising.

"We had to weigh up the potential risk to remaining staff - risk to public with reduced staff numbers - risk to public of contracting the virus.

"Our risk assessment indicated that the only sensible way to reduce these risks, was to close the centre.

"These decisions are never taken lightly nor are they decisions we want to make.

"They are made with great consideration and considerable angst."

Ms Stickler said the suggesting that the centre will never re-open 'could not be further from the truth'.

She said a new High Ropes Challenge Course, which was completed this month and due to open, will now be delayed until 'such time as the spread of the virus is halted'.

Ms Stickler added: "Without having the worry of looking out for our working staff and concerns for public safety, I can work from home and spend the majority of the Christmas and New Year break, applying for further funding support to ensure the financial future of the Trust."

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