SWIMMING pools at Fulwood Leisure Centre are half-empty owing to a staff shortage caused by delays in criminal records checks.

Six members of staff have left their jobs, and until the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) completes the checks, the centre will be short staffed.

This has meant the number of swimmers has been limited to just 30, in two pools meant for more than a hundred each.

But council bosses are sure they will have the centre up-and-running in time for half-term. Councillor Veronica Afrin, executive member for regeneration, community and leisure, said: "It's bad luck to have six staff leave all at once and the CRB checks mean it takes longer to get people trained up and in post."

Fulwood Leisure Centre, Blackbull Lane, is one of the busiest in the county, with more than 450,000 people using it every year.

Despite employing 70 permanent staff members, and 50 casual staff and coaches, the shortage has left it understaffed.

Replacement staff were recruited in September, and despite CRB applications being made at the time, clearance has been taking up to eight weeks.

The CRB has been in the public eye after the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, and now anybody working with children must be checked by the bureau before starting work.

Coun Afrin added: "Public safety is our top priority and we support the principle of these checks. We've been told everything should be ready in time for the busy school holiday period but we would ask people to please bear with us while everything is sorted out."

A spokesman for the CRB, based in Liverpool, said: "It's up to employers to get the relevant level of background check through the CRB. The level of check in this case is probably going to be the highest level, enhanced disclosure.

"We've had some problems over the summer with the volume of applications made, but our service agreement plan has been put into place and this has started to have results.