STAFF at Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre fear they will be made redundant in the run up to Christmas.

Employees working for Fusion Lifestyle, the owner of the centre at Garon Park, say they have been told a decision will be made on up to 20 redundancies a week before Christmas.

In the meantime employees of Fusion which also runs Belfairs and Shoebury swimming pools and Chase Fitness Centre, are waiting to see where the axe will fall.

In the summer, Southend Council awarded Fusion, a charity that operates 85 facilities nationally including in Rochford and Braintree, the contract to manage its leisure centres. .

One worker who asked not to be named, said: “We could be made redundant in a couple of weeks. They told us they will tell us just before Christmas. The centre worked with team GB during the Olympics. We always struggle with staff numbers now.

“No one knows if it will be them who goes and we have this worry right up to Christmas. We are all gutted.”

The company said it hadn’t yet made a decision on whether any jobs would go.

Mark Johnson, divisional business manager of Fusion Lifestyle, said: “I can confirm that no decisions have been made with regard to staff redundancies in the Southend contract.

“Since the registered charity took over operation of the contract in July there has been commitment of £500,000 of redevelopment investment and eight full time roles have been created.”

Ian Gilbert, councillor responsible for enterprise, tourism and economic development, said Fusion Lifestyle had informed the council about the consultation over jobs.

He said: It is at a very early stage of consultation. It’s a first stage and no decision has been made about redundancies.

“That would be a very last resort and I hope that no one will be affected and that no one will lose their job.”