A petition launched amid fears a £12.7m swimming pool will belly flop has been signed by more than 1,600 people in a week.

Eastern Daily Press: An artist's impression of the exterior of the planned Sheringham Leisure Centre. Image: NNDCAn artist's impression of the exterior of the planned Sheringham Leisure Centre. Image: NNDC (Image: Archant)

The petition demands that North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) reverses course on plans to replace Sheringham's Splash Leisure and Centre - without the 'beach-style' layout, wave machine and slide that have proved popular since the pool was opened in 1988.

Liam Cross, from Dersingham, near King's Lynn, launched the campaign because he said the replacement was "not fit for purpose".

People travelled from across Norfolk to use Splash, he said.

He thanked people for signing the petition, but added: "We need people to keep sharing our petition so we can reach our next milestone and beyond."

Virginia Gay, NNDC's portfolio holder for culture and wellbeing, said it would be "considerably more expensive" to build and maintain a slide and wave machine in a new pool.

The petition is here: https://www.change.org/p/north-norfolk-county-council-save-the-splash-leisure-centre-in-sheringham