The new £55 million swimming pool and sports centre at the University of Birmingham will not open next month as planned after being hit by even more delays.

In what is becoming a farcical situation, the Edgbaston institute has been forced to release more announcements on the problems surrounding the opening of the new leisure facility.

The university and its contractor Interserve said in November that the new sports centre would open on January 9 - itself the third postponement of the year - but it has been forced to delay the opening again with no indication of a likely launch date.

"The opening of the new sports centre at the University of Birmingham has regrettably been delayed further," it said in a statement.

"We are focussing on ensuring the highest quality facilities and experience for our members and are doing everything we can to progress completion of the building so we can open as soon as possible.

"We will continue to provide regular updates on progress to our members and potential members in this final period as we transition into the new building."

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Watch: New swimming pool at the University of Birmingham

When it eventually opens, the sports centre will have Birmingham's only 50-metre pool, a 900-seat sports arena, squash courts, dance studios and a gym.

The brand new facility, which sits at the main Bristol Road entrance to the university's campus, was due to open in July which became September before being put back again to December and then January.

Called 360 Sport & Fitness, it will replace the existing Munrow Sports Centre near the University railway station.

The pool, which was filled with water in August, will join Coventry's as only the second 50-metre facility in the West Midlands.

The new sports centre forms part of the wider, long-running regeneration of the campus.

Totalling around £300 million worth of investment, it features a new library, which opened in September, halls of residence, hotel and conference centre, sports pitches and science teaching rooms among other work.

Interserve had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.