PARENTS and toddlers in Colne will be taking advantage of free swimming lessons at Pendle Leisure Centre on Thursday mornings.

Sure Start in Waterbridge with Pendle Leisure Trust are running the swimming sessions for an initial 26 weeks.

They are aimed at nurseries, pre-schools and toddler groups in the Waterbridge area.

Clive Acraman, Sure Start Waterbridge programme manager, said: "We felt it was important to give young children and parents the opportunity to have access to local leisure facilities, particularly swimming facilities in order to encourage more children to feel safe and confident in the water."

The sessions also include a book reading club where the children can listen to stories and interact with each other.

Sessions are every Thursday morning until May 15, 2003, at 10am for the swimming sessions and at 10.30am for the story session.