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Swimmers were furious when the Victorian Harpurhey Pool was suddenly shut down after a survey found the building was unsafe.

Jim Byrne, Head of Leisure for Manchester City Council explained that the baths had been condemned in a survey by consultants Ove Arup as part of a review of indoor leisure facilities.

He said: "At Harpurhey their findings have revealed serious health and safety problems with the building. In the light of their report, city council surveyors visited the site and they have agreed with the findings.

"As a consequence, the pool has been closed until further notice and we are in the process of identifying the most appropriate ways to cater for existing users, including the relocation of the school swimming programme which will resume at the end of September."

He said that Manchester City Council has already agreed to build a new leisure facility including a new pool in Harpurhey and work will begin on the project early next year.

Lightbowne councillor Bill Risby, who uses the baths, was 'deeply disappointed' by the move in an area of poor health that lacks leisure facilities.

He said: "We'll have to see if there is any possibility of keeping the baths open until the new swimming pool opens.

"It's a tragedy that money has not been spent over the years to maintain the pool. There's no denying people have basically had to dodge around scaffolding in recent years.

"Ultimately, whether or not Harpurhey baths reopen will come down to the economic realities of the situation."