HUNDREDS of people pledged their support to the campaign to keep the George Carnall Leisure Centre open on Saturday.

More than 530 people added their names to a petition aimed at saving the centre when campaigners manned a stall in Urmston shopping centre.

That brings the total that have signed the petition to 2270.

The campaigners were out and about 10 days after opposition councillors failed in a bid to get a the council to back a motion opposing plans to close the Davyhulme centre.

Petition organiser Mike Reavy said: "I don't think it is a coincidence that since the council rejected the motion to keep George Carnall open, support for our campaign has grown stronger than ever."

Labour Councillors Andrew Western, Kevin Procter and Joanne Harding joined the protesters at the stand, pictured.

Another campaigner, Kirstie Chapman, said: "Lots of the community is angered at the council for planning to shut this much loved centre.

"Nearly everyone you speak to either plays some kind of sport there, or a family member does, or goes to the NHS rehab team or even have birthday parties there.

"Yet the council insists on shutting this excellent centre."

The Trafford Leisure Community Interest Company announced last autumn that the centre would be closed once an expansion of Urmston Leisure Centre had taken place and as part of a plan that will also see a £24m investment into leisure provision across the borough.

At last week's full council meeting, Cllr Laura Evans, a Conservative Executive member, defended the move.

She said: "Trafford Leisure has no intention of closing George H Carnall until the completion and refurbishment of Urmston.

"All current users of George H Carnall will have fantastic options in the future.

"We want everyone in Trafford - including Urmston and Davyhulme - to have access to modern, fit for purpose facilities."