The facility is three swimming pools in one

The state-of-the-art 50m (164ft) pool, in Wavertree is set to be used by elite swimmers and medal hopefuls across the city when it opens on 15 March.

The Liverpool City Council run leisure complex, has a moveable floor and can be divided into three pools.

Olympic medallist Stephen Parry, from Allerton, said it meant top swimmers could train locally for the first time.

Mr Parry, who also won medals at the Commonwealth Games, said: "I am absolutely thrilled that this scheme is nearing completion.

"Liverpool has a strong tradition of producing fine sportsmen and women and the 50m pool will mean swimming stars of the future will be able to train, without facing the additional hassle of having to travel."

'Local heroes'

Currently the nearest Olympic sized pool is in Manchester.

The council funded �13m of the project, with a further �4m of lottery money from Sport England.

Council leader, Warren Bradley, said: "The aim is for this facility to create local heroes and heroines in the pool at the 2012 London Olympic Games."

The swimming pool also includes a 400 seat spectator area.

A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said the project was the "biggest investment in the city's swimming facilities in decades".