BCP Council said it will do “everything it can” to replace one of its tenants after it ceased trading.

Harbour Challenge, which had been based at Hamworthy Park, recently went out of business leaving its council-owned base unoccupied.

However, cabinet member for environment Cllr Felicity Rice said the council would work to replace the “important and valuable service” it had provided.

Harbour Challenge, which ran watersports activities, took over the running of the outdoor education centre in 2014 but has now shut down.

Sessions were also run for people with disabilities and special needs.

Cllr Rice said: “The council was informed by its tenant, Harbour Challenge, that they have ceased trading.

“We recognise the important and valuable service this centre provides within Hamworthy Park.

“Local people not only benefit from being able to enjoy our wonderful harbour, but keep healthy in both mind and body by undertaking physical or recreational activities that generally have a low carbon footprint.

“We will do everything we can to find a new tenant as soon as possible.”

Founded on Brownsea Island in 1996, Harbour Challenge was selected by the council to run the centre in a bid to increase the number of disabled people getting onto the water.

Shortly after taking over the Hamworthy Park centre in 2014 it was awarded almost £200,000 by Sport England to support its efforts.

It spent tens of thousands of pounds renovating and improving the building, including works to make access easier for people in wheelchairs.

The organisation had previously leased the former bowls club pavilion at Alexandra Park from Poole council following the closure of the club in 2016.

It had hoped to provide a range of outdoor activities and holiday clubs for children as well as classroom space for courses and fitness classes.

The agreement was abandoned a year later after its own tenant, Out and About Dorset, left due to problems it was facing with anti-social behaviour in the area.