A DISNEYLAND-style pirate ship is included in a £3million package to modernise and expand Romsey Rapids.

Borough leisure chiefs say the huge cash investment will ensure the 15-year-old Southampton Road site remains one of the area's top family tourist attractions.

Project manager, David Howells, said the latest work - due to start next week - would help make Romsey Rapids the leisure centre of the future.

"There will be a pirate ship for youngsters and it will be based on a pirates and buccaneers theme," said Mr Howells Besides the pirate ship with its water cannons and tipping buckets -in a new beach area for the under 5s - there will also be a new gym with 100 fitness stations, a new dance and aerobic studios, a new crche, a children's adventure play area and a new reception area.

Mr Howells said work to build the 45-metre by 18-metre extension onto the front of the present building would go on throughout the summer and into the autumn. It will be ready for use by next year.

And in a unique recycling project a 40,000-litre tank will be installed below ground to harness rainwater. The water collected will be used to flush out the filters in the Rapids three pools.

Bosses hope the new attractions will draw in more people from Romsey and surrounding villages and they say membership of Romsey Rapids will cost less than at neighbouring leisure facilities such as the David Lloyd Leisure centre at Nursling.

Launching the ambitious project on Wednesday, Valley Leisure chief, Sheridan Easton, said it was a "prestigious day" for the charity, which runs the popular leisure complex. He said up-to-date leisure facilities had been provided in the Andover area and now it was Romsey's turn.

"When it was built the Rapids was ahead of its time. Now it has outgrown itself," added Mr Easton. Officials say it will be "business as usual" while most of the work is carried out at the leisure centre, which was opened by the Duchess of York in 1990. Romsey Rapids cost about £5m when it was first built.

Further improvements in the latest development at Romsey Rapids include a refurbished sauna and steam room, a new 'wellbeing' area incorporating therapy rooms, a nail bar and what's described as a 'relax' area offering a variety of treatments.

There will also be a new-look caf area and extended and improved 'changing village' to include a complete refurbishment and upgrading of the existing area and extension for additional showers, cubicles, lockers and vanity area.

Borough leader Ian Carr said: "This is one of the largest projects the council has delivered in some years. Councillors are convinced that this major investment makes sense in the current leisure market and the dedicated project team has looked at all aspects of the scheme to make sure it meets the needs of the area and that it will represent good value for money for the local community. "

And borough cabinet leisure spokesperson, Caroline Nokes, said: "I was a teenager when the Rapids first opened and I think it's high time the Rapids had its dryside facilities and I am very pleased it's going to come into fruition and be ready for the New Year. Hopefully the people of Romsey and district will be able to use the new facilities to shed a few pounds after the Christmas celebrations."