The council says the funding shortfall is too large to make up

Newcastle City Council had been working with Northumbria University on the project and campaigners had been trying to get the facility for years.

But now the council says it has reluctantly decided not to go ahead with the plan.

It says the decision was made when it became apparent the level of Lottery cash available would not be enough to allow the scheme to go ahead.

The council said it had explored alternative ways of paying for the scheme but said the shortfall is too large to make up.

Ed Williams, general manager for Leisure Services in Newcastle, said: "It is a very sad day for everybody that is a supporter of swimming.

Sports participation

"We were all very hopeful that we would see this facility landed. We were asking for �5.4m from Sports Lottery. Obviously that was not forthcoming and since then we have been trying to plug that gap.

"Unfortunately we haven't been able to do that. So at the 11th hour we have had to decide that's it and the project is defunct."

The council said it had successfully secured more than �16m of Lottery sports funding for the East End Pool, Benfield Centre for Sporting Excellence and the West Gate Centre for Sport, plus several other community sports projects.

Regional director of Sport England North East Judith Rasmussen said: "Sport England has enjoyed a good working relationship with the City of Newcastle and has supported many good and innovative projects.

"We will continue to work with Newcastle in the future to help address the issues of participation and sports development."

The council says it will look at future economic opportunities for a 50-metre pool in the city.