HEAVY rain has left a sports centre car park and entrance submerged in water.

A grassed area used for customer car parking while work is caried out on a £900,000 revamp of Dovercourt Leisure Centre in Low Road was sodden on Monday.

Staff and visitors were urged to park on the road to avoid problems, made worse by the temporary entrance also flooding.

Mike Carran, Tendring Council’s Operations Manager, said: “We are aware that the situation around our temporary reception is far from ideal for customers, staff and other visitors to the site in Low Road.

“We are putting plans in place and would ask people to park on the road – rather than on the grass – wherever possible.

“This will reduce the amount of vehicles on the flooded area until such time as the rain stops and we can sort out parking arrangements for our users.”

Contractors are carrying out major improvement and extension works which include the complete refurbishment of changing facilities and well as building a new ground floor fitness suite.