BOLTON'S leisure centres are in a state of crisis with a massive multi-million pound modernisation programme needed to prevent them from having to close.

A confidential report leaked to the Bolton Evening News reveals that £1 million alone is needed to maintain just two of the town's crumbling leisure centres.

Many more millions must be spent on all the town's ageing stock of centres to save them from further decline -- and avert any threat of closure.

The worrying state of the town's leisure centres is revealed today less than 48 hours after the town centre's once prestigious Water Place swimming complex closed its doors for the last time.

The council says it follows a slump in interest in casual swimming, health and fitness, badminton, squash and five-a-side football.

Leisure chiefs fear a further drop in income of up to £250,000 in the current financial year with fewer people visiting the centres.

The "Leisure Centres -- Future Options" report written in August reveals that around £610,000 is urgently required for Horwich Leisure Centre over the next five years.

And a further £375,000 is needed over the same period for Farnworth Leisure Centre.

The cash, it is understood, would be spent on merely maintaining the buildings and fixed equipment.

Modernising the centres by improving the changing rooms, reception areas and general decor would cost many more millions, council chiefs have been told.

Bolton Council is to invite private firms to join it in a partnership to run the centres.

The local authority would form a trust which would be able to take advantage of tax concessions -- and boost the fortunes of the flagging leisure centres.

Keith Davies, deputy director of Bolton's department of education and culture, said: "The centres need investment and, by tying up a deal with the private sector, we would generate the money with which to do that.

"It would place the centres in a stronger position in the leisure market and ensure their future."

The aim, he said, was to modernise the centres in a massive move to lessen the blow of losing the Water Place. The finance to fund the modernisation plan would come from private companies.

A recent report into Bolton's leisure facilities said there had been a "lack of attention to detail and poor housekeeping" at the centres in the past.

It is also believed competition from highly-equipped and modern private centres is eating away at the viability of the council's leisure centres.

The £4.5 million required for the Water Place -- which closed last weekend -- was deemed to be too much to spend on one building.