SWINDON'S Link Centre is open again following a Legionnaires' Disease scare.

Microscopic quantities of the legionella bug, which can cause the deadly disease, were discovered in the water system serving the toilets and showers on Thursday morning.

The sports and leisure centre in West Swindon opened its doors again at 7pm last night following a complete sterilisation. All events, classes and sports sessions were running as normal.

The 7,500-litre water system and every inch of pipework was drained, chlorinated and flushed under pressure before being refilled.

Legionella was detected by safety tests designed to register the presence of such bugs.

Testing was carried out after a dip in the temperature of the water, which is usually maintained at a level high enough to kill bacteria.

With 800 traces of the bug per litre, the level detected was still 200 traces per litre less than the 1,000 at which the council would have been obliged to alert the Health and Safety Executive.

Bill Fisher, deputy director if Swindon Services, said today: "We have had staff there all the time and we are up and running again. All activities are back on as normal.

"There is no ongoing effect from what has happened or from the actions we have taken."