Staff at a popular Oxford sports centre left the facility for the final time this weekend.

Managers at the Peers Sports Centre and swimming pool locked up for good on yesterday evening after Oxford City Council decided the move would help fill a £5.7m budget deficit.

The number of people using the centre in Littlemore, built in 1976, has dwindled in recent years.

In 2005, 90,000 walked through its doors but in 2007 the figure had dropped to 53,000.

Managers said staff and customers would be able to relocate to other leisure centre sites in the city.

Assistant manager Chris Monger said: “We’ve had quite a few people coming in for old times sake. Everyone said they had enjoyed their time here and were going to miss it.”