ORGANISERS of a popular playscheme for Chorley youngsters have slammed the council for not allowing them the use of its leisure facilities this summer.

Chorley Playscheme bosses branded council chiefs "archaic" for imposing the no-go area at leisure centres and swimming pools.

The council rules that supervisors from the scheme under 18 are too young.

But playscheme organisers fear for its future if the council does not lend more support.

The week-long playscheme takes place at St Michael's High School, Chorley, every August.

Andrea Barnard, deputy director and treasurer, said the scheme, which ran at Astley Park for four years before moving to St Michael's, once used council facilities and received funding to help pay for events for more than 500 youngsters.

This was withdrawn in 1998 because it did not fit in with Chorley's 'play policy'.

She said: "The policy says all leaders must be 18 or over. Because some are aged 15-16 they would help us no longer.

"Everyone is given full training in certificated health and safety, basic first aid from the Red Cross, even face-painting skills, so there is no risk to the children

"The problem is that many people aged 18 or over are unlikely to get involved as they are looking for jobs to help them pay for university or further study," she added.

"We are feeling the pressure of financial problems. The youngsters spend all year fundraising to help pay for the scheme, but without the council's support I don't know how we can survive." Andrea, 48, of Abbey Grove, Adlington, works as a nursery nurse at St Joseph's RC Primary School, Anderton, and has been involved with youth work for 30 years.

She said: "South Ribble Borough Council offers its facilities to Leyland Playscheme, which has been running in Worden Park for 25 years, and they have volunteers under 18.

"You try to do something to get youngsters off the streets, give them something positive to do and make them better citizens, then get knocked down because of archaic rules!"

David Jones, head of leisure services at Chorley Borough Council, said: "In 1998 the council set up a working party which agreed, along with various agencies such as Lancashire County Council's social services department, that all Chorley playschemes must be supervised by people over 18 if they were to be allowed the use of council facilities.

"When this play policy was agreed, the organisers felt they were unable to comply, but we overlooked that for one year provided they would comply with it the following year.

"They didn't do this and when they applied to use our leisure centres for swimming, we were not in a position to allow it.

"The supervision of children in swimming pools is a high priority, and I can't afford to deviate from these standards."

it was "clearly not acceptable" for 15-year-olds to be supervising young children swimming."