SCHOOL swimming pools in the district are under threat due to a withdrawal of funding.

Government legislation has decreed that schools in Carnforth, Hornby and Heysham should take on the county council's responsibility for managing and maintaining the pools.

Parents and children are angry that their local swimming pools may be axed and have vowed to fight the move.

Elizabeth Norris of Bolton-le-Sands started swimming classes following an operation and has called on local people to oppose the closure threat.

"Local people fought long and hard and gave of their time and money to get these pools for our children and the use of the community," said Mrs Norris.

"If they close due to withdrawal of funding this will mean that the local children will no longer be able to learn to swim. I myself need to have exercise since a heart bypass operation 20 months ago. As I have arthritis I have found the best way to get this exercise is to swim, a skill I have only learned since my operation at the "Swimming for the Terrified" class at Hornby pool. I cannot believe that local residents would want these facilities to be withdrawn and only the Salt Ayre pool left open. Come on everyone, let us fight to keep our local pools."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council explained that under the new regulations the Secretary of State has decided that the pools should be the responsibility of the schools themselves.

He added: "National changes in funding arrangements require the county council to review the current provision. Over the course of the next few months a detailed examination will be undertaken of each pool to identify the best way of securing future operations in light of the present circumstances."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.