THE council-run Salt Ayre sports centre is currently operating at an estimated loss of more than £220,000 - The Citizen can reveal.

The budget deficit for running costs at the leisure complex is thought to be around 3,000 per cent higher than expected. The centre is run by the Leisure Services Department and at a meeting next week councillors will scrutinize the figures.

The financial difficulties are currently listed under "exempt items" and the exact details are not available to the press or public.

One source told the Citizen: "Some of these problems were picked up some time ago but it seems they're getting worse."