A 73-YEAR-OLD Burnley woman has overcome her fear of water more than 60 years after she last set foot in a swimming pool.

Not only has Lily Rhodes of Barnes Court climbed into a swimming pool, she has also learned to swim a breadth and a half at the William Thompson Recreation Centre.

Lily was referred to the Burnley Encouraging Exercise on Prescription programme by her local GP to gently increase her weekly exercise.

She completed the standard ten-week course and decided to continue exercising at an Aqua Mobility class every Wednesday afternoon, where she built up her confidence in the water.

Health and fitness development officer Linda Searle said: "She told me she hadn't been in the water since school but she's been coming along to the classes for quite a while now and has overcome her fears in the shallow end.

"There are an awful lot of people in that age group that fear water.

"Lily told me that when she was younger she had to get in the water or be pushed in with a pole or something. She's done really well to be swimming."

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