Loss adjustors said damage to the leisure centre was 'catastrophic'

Cheltenham's leisure centre faces a repair bill of �5m and closure for up to a year after severe water damage.

Pleasure boat operators at Gloucester docks are said to have lost thousands of pounds as tourists avoid the area.

And managers at Painswick's Rococo Garden said entry prices may have to be increased to offset a 25% drop in visitor numbers.

'Catastrophic damage'

Loss adjustors called in to assess the damage at the council-owned leisure centre, described it as "catastrophic".

The three pools are full of contaminated water and the floors of the dance and sports halls are warped beyond recognition.

Sonia Phillips, assistant director for health and wellbeing, said: "We have written to our 1,600 pre-pay customers, our customers who take block bookings and, of course, our staff to explain that they will continue to be paid until further notice."

Chris Hayes from the National Waterways Museum which runs a pleasure boat at Gloucester docks said: "Unfortunately, we've had the rain and lost basically 700 customers and about �25,000 in just the first week alone."

Tewksbury is open for business and we need those tourists more than we've ever needed them before David Garfitt, pleasure boat operator

Margaret Griffiths, restaurant manager at the Rococo Garden, said: "We've had a trickle of people, but nothing like the [usual] amount. On Sunday, I did three lunches, when on a regular Sunday I could do 43 or 53. It's just dreadful."

Dave Garfitt, who operates a pleasure boat on the River Severn at Tewkesbury said the challenge now was to convince people that the town was still open for business.

"At long last, the sun's shining and Tewkesbury is a lovely place," he said.

"Predominantly, a lot of customers come from South Wales and the west and a lot are ringing up and saying 'oh, Tewkesbury is flooded, oh you can't get through Tewkesbury.