A slippery leisure centre car park that has to shut every time it rains after an elderly man suffered head injuries and died is finally getting a new surface.

Wycombe Leisure Centre’s car park is closed off as a “precautionary measure” every time it rains for safety reasons – after a pensioner reportedly fell and died in the car park in December 2018.

Harry Carter, 85, died in hospital a week after slipping and hitting his head on December 2, it has been reported. His death was ruled as an accident by Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court.

According to figures obtained by the BBC, there were four previous slips, falls and trips in the car park since it opened in January 2016.

Whenever rain is forecast, the leisure centre car park is coned off with a notice placed jointly by Places for People Leisure – which operates the sports centre – and Wycombe District Council.

The note reads: “As part of our planned maintenance programmes, Places Leisure and Wycombe District Council have completed tests on the surface of the car park.

“This highlighted some areas of the car park surface which require attention.

“As a precautionary measure, until essential maintenance can be completed, we have jointly taken the decision to close the car park when rain is forecasted.

“When the car park is closed, customers can use the Park and Ride car park free of charge located opposite Waitrose.”

A report found that the car park's manufacturer recommended a number of cleaning measures that were supposedly not taking place – including a regular “spring clean” to remove salt and other de-icing materials and the use of hoses to clean the surface.

However, the BBC said the report noted it was not "conclusive that adherence" to the cleaning recommendations would have prevented Mr Carter from falling.

A spokesman for Wycombe District Council has now confirmed that work is underway to lay a replacement surface after identifying the “best way to improve the car park”.

The £25 million Wycombe Leisure Centre was opened at the beginning of 2016, replacing the former Wycombe Sports Centre which shut after 40 years.