Castle Point Borough Council (CPBC) has announced that a number of its leisure facilities are in line to receive a share of £2.7m towards renovation work.

Waterside Farm Leisure Centre in Canvey Island, Essex, will net £1.3m to help fund work to improve the venue's lifespan by up to 30 years, which is set to include improvements to the roof, doors and windows. Nearly £724,000 will be invested in upgrade work at Runnymede Pool in Thundersley, which will benefit from repairs to boilers, pipework, windows and doors, while £76,000 will be spent on improvements to the Paddocks.

A new heating system and toilets will be installed at Runnymede Hall after the council allocated funding worth nearly £213,000, along with an additional £30,000 for new furnishings to help develop it as a wedding venue. The funding announcement follows a review of council plans to overhaul leisure facilities by the overview and scrutiny committee, which backed the cabinet's decision to demolish the Old Sea Water Paddling Pool to make way for a new beach area.

CPBC leader Pam Challis said: "We are investing in improvements at the neighbouring New Sea Water Paddling Pool which was developed last year on Canvey seafront. A crabbing pool is to be added. The facility will continue to be used by generations of residents and visitors."