Gateshead's Dunston Swimming Pool has closed its doors to the public in order to undergo a major refurbishment as part of a wider council-led scheme to improve local leisure facilities.

The complex will benefit from a new 230sq m (2,476sq ft) gym, two new fitness studios and an upgraded swimming pool, as well as poolside sauna and steamrooms and new sports and pool changing areas. Due for completion later this year, the Dunston Swimming Pool scheme forms part of Gateshead Council's £29m Building an Active Future programme to overhaul leisure facilities over the next three years.

Linda Green, the council's cabinet member for culture, said: "Our Building an Active Future Programme is the largest investment ever undertaken in sport and leisure facilities by Gateshead Council and we are determined to get it right. "Although we recognise that the closure of Dunston Swimming Pool will be inconvenient for some, unfortunately there is no other way to make the enormous improvements planned."