FREE swimming for children and pensioners is set to be axed across East Lancashire after a new round of Government cuts.

Whitehall funding for a scheme which let under 16s and over 60s use council swimming pools for free will end on July 31, it has been announced.

And that means that children and pensioners will be forced to pay for swimming again - unless cash-strapped councils can plug the gaps from their own budgets.

In Blackburn with Darwen, fears have been raised about the future of the Beez leisure card.

The card is funded by Refresh, which is itself part-bankrolled by Swim4Life.

It is available to anyone who lives and works in Blackburn with Darwen and offers 10 per cent off paid-for leisure activities and discounts on tickets at Darwen Library Theatre and King George’s Hall.

Trevor Maxwell, the councillor with responsilbity for leisure on Blackburn with Darwen Council, was due in an emergency meeting with officers last night.

He said: “The cuts have put a big question mark over the card and its future is very much up in the air now.”

Burnley Council has already said that its Swim4Life programme, launched last year, will end when Government funding ceases at the end of next month.

A spokesman said: “We had a good take-up of the Swim4Life scheme, with thousands of people taking part.

“However, Government funding will end on July 31 and therefore so will the programme in Burnley borough.

“We will continue to encourage people to swim using council facilities.”

He said the Passport to Leisure and Clear Membership schemes would help those on low incomes get discounted leisure after next month.

Pendle Council bosses said they could not say whether they would be able to continue Swim4Life in the borough.

Chief finance officer Dean Langton said: “The implications of the loss of grant are currently being considered.”

Hyndburn and Ribble Valley councils were yesterday unable to say how the Government cuts would affect their services.

Rossendale Council never implemented Swim4Life and all residents have had to pay for swimming at borough pools.