Freedom of Information requests to UK councils revealed 65 pools had closed, either temporarily or permanently, in the three years to March 2022.

Ukactive said a lack of staff, rising energy costs and chemical shortages had created a "perfect storm" for centres.

Greg Whyte, a board member at the organisation, said the closures were an "absolute health and welfare disaster".

Ukactive, which represents gyms and leisure centres, said centres had only just started to recover following closures during the Covid-19 pandemic. It warned there was a risk of more permanent closures before the end of the year.

The BBC found about one in six local authorities had lost at least one pool on a permanent or temporary basis, as of March 2022.

Some of them had been closed for good, while others are closed for refurbishment with no fixed reopening date. Others are now only accessible for private hire or swimming clubs.

Pools in Essex, Bedfordshire and Staffordshire have all blamed chlorine shortages for their recent closures.