Members of the public formed the Friends of Albion Leisure Centre (FALC) and applied to reopen the building as a social enterprise, but their bid was rejected.

Yesterday evening, around 50 people – many of whom were children – gathered to protest about the rejection of the bid and called for the council to reopen negotiations over the centre's future.

Liz Stevenson, secretary of FALC, said: "I am pleased with the turnout tonight. Young people of Ilkeston particularly are showing how much they value the leisure centre building and the vision we have got to turn it into a people's community centre."

A petition signed by more than 5,000 people was handed over to Erewash Borough Council at the meeting in Ilkeston Town Hall.

Members of the public were told the council was only willing to offer a short-term lease of the leisure centre, so had turned down the bid which asked for a longer-term lease.

But several councillors spoke in favour of FALC.

Councillor John Booth said: "These people have a plan and that plan is going to create jobs.

"How are you going to get people into sports if you are taking things away?"

The council voted in favour of holding negotiations with FALC and other interested parties to bring the building back into public use.