Councillors have called the costs of redeveloping a leisure centre "eye watering" – but agreed to borrow cash to see the project go ahead.

They approved plans to borrow £7 million which will go towards the redevelopment of a Splashes leisure centre at Cozenton Park, Rainham.

This takes the total expected cost to just under £25 million – five times more than first planned.

The council first budgeted £5m to refurbish the old centre but when problems with the structure were uncovered it was decided it needed to be knocked down and re-built.

During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (October 18) councillors agreed abandoning the project was not an option despite the influence of increased fuel and labour costs.

The council's deputy leader, Cllr Howard Doe (Con) said: "Let's be brave, let's do it", adding: "I don't pretend the difficulties the council is faced with finance make it easy to make this decision.

Cllr Howard Doe speaking as the demolition began in January

"But I think that we do need to proceed with it, we've got to honour what we've said to the public, and I think they will be grateful in the longer term that we've actually done this."

Demolition of the existing pool - which is owned by the council and opened in 1990 - began in January.

In June, plans were approved for the full redevelopment of the site and councillors added £12.85 million from borrowing to the council's capital programme for the project.

Cllr Adrian Gulvin (Con), said: "All building work at the moment is really under pressure with both labour costs and material costs.

"If we really want to do this, we've got to get on and do it. I think this is worthwhile spending, although it is eye-watering amounts of money to spend at this time, with the way inflation is going in the future.

"In a few years time within this is a pretty economical deal."