Have fun in the pool this half-term

Families looking for fun this half-term should visit their nearest swimming pool to try out the latest activities on offer.

Leisure centres across the county will be running special holiday timetables from Monday February 12 to Sunday February 18.

Activities on offer include Splashtots, a fun, pay as you go session for adults and children aged five and under.

Those aged two to six can also take part in Ready, Sett, Splash – a class for adults and children with 30 minutes of instructor-led fun games followed by 30 minutes free play, as well as the chance to meet Brock the badger, Durham County Council’s early years’ mascot.

Fun sessions with toys and floats are also taking place in both the main and small pools, while children aged between eight and 14 who can swim 25 metres can take on an inflatable challenge in the large pools.

The new timetables and activities are being offered as part of the Swim Local pilot, which aims to get more people in the pool.

Cllr Ossie Johnson, cabinet member for tourism, culture, leisure and rural issues, said: “Swimming is an excellent way to keep young people entertained during the holidays and many of the classes on offer give adults the chance to spend some quality time having fun with their children.

“We know the sessions introduced as part of the Swim Local pilot are already proving popular and we hope even more people will get in the water this half-term.”

The pilot includes a £1.5 million investment from Durham County Council alongside £540,972 funding from Sport England which is being used to launch new aqua classes, refurbish pools and changing areas and implement innovative approaches to encourage more people to swim.

Residents who take out a swim membership between now and 12 February are also being offered a 25 per cent discount.

For more information visit www.durham.gov.uk/leisure