There are more than 20 closed swimming pools and lidos in London

Organised by the London Pools Campaign, the aim of the swim is to raise awareness of public facilities which are under threat of closure.

Campaigners are swimming across a chain of pools from Park Road Pool, in Hornsey, to Brockwell Lido, in Brixton.

The swim ends at 1600 BST at Brockwell Lido when Duncan Goodhew will be handed a mock Olympic torch.

Decaying and vandalised

Campaign spokesperson Liz Hughes said: "While London spends millions bidding for the Olympics we are losing our local swimming pools.

"Last year Clissold Leisure Centre closed. It cost �32 million (instead of the initially planned �7.5 million) - and had been open just 20 months.

"Court cases abound, but there is no sign of the pool re-opening and there has been press speculation about it being knocked down."

Photographs of closed and threatened pools in London are featured in an exhibition, which will be opened by Olympic medallist Goodhew and MP Kate Hoey on Wednesday.

There are more than 20 closed swimming pools and lidos in London.

Most are decaying and vandalised, while others are guarded.