A popular leisure centre that shut unexpectedly last year will be reopened to the public, KentOnline can reveal.

Administrators have confirmed they have accepted a bid for Folkestone Sports Centre, which the town’s MP has described as “absolutely brilliant news”.

The site closed in July, resulting in 144 job losses, after the charity running it said it could no longer afford to.

It sparked fears the large facility could be demolished and turned into new houses - something administrator Opus Restructuring LLP, appointed in August, previously said could not be ruled out.

But this week a spokesman for Opus told KentOnline a buyer has been secured for the site, with plans to reopen the sports centre to the public.

The administrators have not yet disclosed the identity of the facility's new owners, as the final legal paperwork is still being processed.

In November, Opus confirmed that all bidders left on the table planned to reopen the centre and it was waiting for a “clear recommendation” from its agents, Christie and Co, on which was the best bid to accept.

The facility has been used by generations of residents and its closure was described as a “massive loss for the community”.

Lord Radnor had donated the site to the Folkestone Sports Centre Trust for recreational use only, and it was opened by Princess Anne in 1972.

Its facilities included a swimming pool, gym, sports hall, tennis courts and even a dry ski slope.

A petition calling on Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) to “save” the centre, was set up shortly after the closure announcement was made. It has since gained almost 9,000 signatures.

Folkestone and Hythe MP Tony Vaughan says he “cannot wait” to see the doors open again.

“It's absolutely brilliant news to hear that the sports centre has been bought by an entity that wants to re-open it,” he said.

“My big fear - like everyone in the community - was that the sports centre would simply be demolished and turned into housing, which the administrators didn't rule out.

“I'm not aware yet of all the details of the deal, and cannot comment further at this stage other than to say that this is a victory for the community, and I just cannot wait to see those doors open again as soon as possible, and see local sportspeople - young and old - back on those courts, pools and treadmills."

In October, the council accepted a nomination made by the Save Folkestone Sports Centre campaign group, backed by the Labour MP, to list the site as an asset of community value (ACV).

Nominating something as an ACV is a way for community groups to protect assets from being sold off.

If the owner decides to sell, they have to notify the local authority – in this case, FHDC – and it will alert local organisations.

If a community interest group or a charity puts in an expression of interest, the sale has to pause for six months, to give them time to raise the money to acquire the asset.

Opus says it will provide more information on the new owners once the paperwork has been finalised.