THREE Rossendale councillors went for an early bath today in the newly refurbished Marl Pits swimming pool - much to the delight of child onlookers.

Coun Paulinus Barnes, complete with suit and tie, chairman of the leisure committee Coun Lawrence Forshaw and Coun Alyson Barnes jumped backwards off the side of the pool to celebrate the opening.

The pool was forced to close in January for refurbishment work costing £200,000.

The work started with a new roof and extended into retiling the surface around the pool and creating disabled changing facilities and better access.

Coun Forshaw said: "When we first announced that the pool would have to close we hoped that it would be shut for two or three months.

"As it turned out, the work took longer that we thought, so we hit on this idea as our way of saying sorry to all the people who have been inconvenienced by the closure - particularly the children."

Coun Barnes said: "The pool looks great now and we are sure once people come along they will want to keep on returning.

"We are sorry it had to close for so long so we have organised three free swimming days.

" Our swimming charges in Rossendale are better value compared to other authorities nearby."

Free swimming is always offered on the first day of the school holidays at all pools in Rossendale - this year it has been extended to include tomorrow and Wednesday and adults and children wanting to take part should collect a voucher from the pools.

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