A TORY campaign for a new swimming pool in town earmarked for a £2million regeneration has been branded 'cynical electioneering' by the local Labour council leader.

Rossendale Conservatives has launched a petition for a replacement baths in Haslingden after the previous one in East Bank Avenue shut in 2013.

Residents are being asked to sign a document saying: "I support the campaign led by Rossendale Conservatives to build a new Swimming Pool for the families of Haslingden and Helmshore."

The party says it has 'a fully-costed plan to build a new 25 metre pool next to Haslingden Leisure Centre'.

Their move comes as campaigning gets under way for two Rossendale Council by-elections on September 29 in the Helmshore and Facit and Shawforth wards.

They were caused by the resignation due to ill health of Conservative councillors Tony Haworth and Lynda Barnes.

Rossendale Council leader Cllr Alyson Barnes said that the authority's full meeting in October was due to approve plans for a new swimming pool at the Adrenaline Centre in Helmshore Road, Haslingden.

A Facebook post from the valley's Conservatives on Tuesday said: "Today we're launching our petition for a new swimming pool for Haslingden and Helmshore.

"Haslingden has been without a pool since Labour closed the old one nine years ago. They then sold off the old site without investing any of the profits into new leisure facilities for the town.

"We have a fully-costed plan to build a new 25 metre pool next to Haslingden Leisure Centre so that everyone living in Helmshore and Haslingden can access swimming facilities locally."

Cllr David Foxcroft, leader of Rossendale Council's Conservative group, said: "Residents across Helmshore and Haslingden feel totally let down by Labour’s failure to deliver. Despite cashing in on the old Haslingden Baths site, the council have refused to use this money to invest in new swimming pool for the west of the borough.

“As Conservatives we have an affordable plan to build a new pool at Haslingden Leisure Centre adding to the popular facilities like 'Grip and Go' already on this site."

Cllr Barnes said: "This is cynical electioneering and data gathering on potential voters before the Helmshore by-election.

"We have been working for more than 12 months on plans for a new swimming pool at the Adrenaline centre which is due to be approved by the full council meeting in October."