JOB cuts have begun at Broadstone Leisure Centre after the business was plunged into administration last week.

Five permanent members of staff have been let go as part of a cost-cutting measure by administrators BDO Stoy Hayward.

But the company has firmly denied rumours that the leisure centre will be shutting in the next week unless money can be found to prop it up.

A BDO Stoy Hayward spokesperson said: “We are not sure where the rumour came from but we very much refute it.

“It remains business as usual. We are assessing the situation and are still looking to sell the business as a going concern.”

Among the sacked employees are understood to be two full-time leisure assistants, a maintenance man and a secretary.

Justin Roberts, 18, was one of the staff axed over the phone on Monday.

He said morale among the remaining 57 staff was extremely low.

He said: “I was pretty shocked to get the call and asked them why I wasn’t told face to face.

“The atmosphere is quite low and staff are upset but are putting on a brave face.”

BDO Stoy Hayward said it would prefer to sell the centre to another buyer with charitable status.

The facility, which attracts around 600,000 visits a year, is a cornerstone of the Broadstone community and boasts an indoor pool, gym and sports hall.

The Borough of Poole leased the centre at a peppercorn rent to Wessex Sports Charitable Trust but has declined to bail it out of its financial problems.