The Conservative group has rounded on political opponents charged with running a 'misleading' campaign to save Epping's sports centre.

On June 14 a petition to keep Epping Leisure Centre or a replacement within the boundary of the town was brought before the district council's cabinet.

Spearheaded by the Liberal Democrats and forming a key part of their local election campaign last month, close to 1,800 residents backed the demands.

In her response to the petition Cllr Helen Kane, leisure and community services portfolio holder, said the leisure centre was not going to close, but that developers had been asked to come up with cost estimates for the replacement of one or both of Epping and Ongar leisure centres, as their 20 year design life had elapsed.

While the petition did not suggest the leisure centre would be closed and not replaced - instead calling for it to be kept in Epping town to avoid additional traffic and pollution - Conservative members piled in on Lib Dems Janet and Jon Whitehouse.

Gavin Chambers, Tory member for Buckhurst Hill West, said: "Cllr Helen Kane has made it very clear that there is going to be no immediate plans to close Epping.

"I fear what is happening with this centre is it is being used as a political football and it is a complete abuse of public office.

"It's scaremongering. It's not happening. It needs to stop."

Cllr John Phillip suggested the location of the centre was not as important as the petition argued, as a portion of residents would need to travel to it whether it was located in Epping, Ongar or North Weald.

Holly Whitbread, Conservative councillor for Epping Lindsey and Thornwood Common, added: "It was very disappointing during the election campaign to have such misleading statements made by a particular candidate and the words on the leaflet don't reflect what was said on the doorstep."

While it was unclear whether Cllr Whitbread had made reference to Cllr Jon Whitehouse or his mother, the Lib Dem group leader shot back: "I can give an absolute assurance that the words said on the doorstep do reflect what was said on the leaflet.

"The party that mentioned closure was the Conservatives. We mentioned keeping the sports centre in Epping which is what we wish to do and from this petition what the residents want us to do."

The future of the centre will be discussed "towards the end of 2018", a council report into the matter states, once further details of the Local Plan and future housing placement across the district is confirmed.