The cost of building a new swimming pool in Thame has risen by £1m in the last six months.

The bill for the long-awaited project, which includes a new health and fitness suite, is now £6,345,224. Just six months ago it was estimated at £5,355,000.

South Oxfordshire District Council is paying £1,480,000 for the fitness suite, which leaves Thame Town Council to pay £4,865,224 from the £7.2m it received for selling public land for housing, to fund the pool.

Deputy town mayor Cllr Mike Welply, who heads the swimming pool committee, said the figures were "eye-watering".

The mayor, Cllr Don Butler, said: "I am extremely disappointed at the amazing amount of money this is costing. It is very sad.

"People have said to me that we have £7.2m in the kitty and that will be the real final figure. I hope this is not so."

He appealed to contractor Wilmott Dixon to keep the costs down as far as possible.

A special full council meeting did, however, agree to pay the money.

The man behind the project, former mayor Mike Le Mesurier, said: "We have gone beyond the point of no return - we cannot ditch the project now."

Nigel Jones, from Wilmott Dixon, said: "We are trying to strike a good balance between costs and value.

"This will be a very high value product built well to give long service and a maximum income. The costs may be a disappointment but we do not think the building will be."

He said the costs had risen because sub-contractors' estimates were far higher than expected.