A NEW floor is to be laid at Andover Leisure Centre at a cost of more than £80,000.

Members of Test Valley Borough Council's executive heard that the existing floor was made of wood-based blocks, which were prone to cracking.

The floor needs regular sanding to maintain skid resistance - and the surface has worn down to less than 1mm, which means that further sanding is no longer possible.

A report said: "To prevent the loss of service, injury insurance claims and subsequent claim for loss of profit, the main hall floor will need to be renewed as it is deteriorating in places due to wear and tear."

Several options were considered, but in the end the councillors agreed to replace the old flooring with a hardwood sprung wood flooring. Tthis type of floor reduced sports impact injuries.