Bath's council recently told Mowlem staff to vacate the spa

Capita Symonds were hired by Bath and North East Somerset council (Banes) to finish the ill-fated project.

The previous builders, Mowlem, were dismissed by Banes in a surprise move last week.

Banes and Mowlem have been locked in a bitter dispute over the project, which is nearly three years behind schedule after a series of technical problems.

Capita Symonds' portfolio includes the new Wembley Stadium and Twickenham rugby ground.

'Substantial claim'

But a Mowlem spokesman said the contractor may not leave the site and insists that by forcing it to go, the council is breaching its contract.

Last week Mowlem said the council had exposed itself to a "substantial claim".

Capita Symonds staff plan to spend the first few weeks checking the state of the spa building.

Then it will work out a schedule to advance the project, hiring sub-contractors to finish the job.

The original project was due to cost �13m, but that has rocketed to �35m.

The project has been blighted with problems, including peeling paint in the pools and leaking floors.