British holidaymakers are staying at a number of overseas hotels which have "dangerous" swimming pools, the Consumers' Association has claimed.

Of 43 hotel pools independently inspected in Cyprus and the Canary island of Gran Canaria, only 10 passed safety standards, according to the association's Holiday Which? magazine.

Five of the pools were rated as poor, while 28 were condemned as dangerous, said Holiday Which?

Problems at the pools included sudden changes in depth, no depth markings, and excessive suction that could trap swimmers by the hair and hold them under the water.

There were also unclear signs showing the depth of water swimmers were diving into and ineffective barriers dividing children's pool areas from the deeper water of the main pool.

"Last year, eight young children drowned in swimming pools while they were on holiday abroad. Pools can look beautifully inviting, but a lack of safety measures can turn them into death traps," said Holiday Which? editor Patricia Yates.

She went on: "What we have found time and time again is that basic safety measures are just not being followed.

"Our recent inspection shows that tour operators have a long way to go to ensure that safety standards are improved."

Accident victim Paul Mitchell, who broke his neck diving into a swimming pool in Turkey, seven years ago, agrees.

He said: "You are used to this safe system in England. You go abroad and it is totally different, the architecture of the pools, they are like deathtraps.



Action demanded

Holiday Which? said it had alerted hotels and tour operators before publishing its results.

It said nine of the hotels rated as dangerous had reported back on action taken and holiday companies First Choice, JMC, Thomson and Amathus had all responded.

Holiday Which? said the Federation of Tour Operators had not yet accepted an invitation to meet to discuss how safety standards could be better enforced.

The Federation of Tour Operators welcomed the Holiday Which? report and said the health and safety of holidaymakers was of "paramount importance to all federation members".

A spokesman added: "Major tour operators carry out detailed audits on properties every year, which include swimming pools, and millions of pounds have been spent on improving standards.

"The federation's safety committee has also produced a health and safety handbook for its members with detailed guidelines on swimming pool safety.

"These guidelines frequently exceed any local or national requirements as we work to raise standards."

The FTO said it shared the frustration shown when "for instance, hoteliers allow depth markings to deteriorate at the end of the summer season and when damaged or lost signs may not be replaced speedily".

It added: "Safety guidance is provided to holidaymakers throughout every stage of their holiday.

"Tour operators may show in-flight safety videos, distribute health and safety leaflets and put information on general notice boards."

The FTO also said that it backed calls for "a much-needed EC safety directive which encompasses pool safety" and that it also encouraged greater effort by national and local governments on compliance and enforcement.