Revamp for gold medallist's pool

The council plans to rename the swimming baths in her honour

Plans to transform the swimming pool where Olympic double gold medallist Rebecca Adlington learned to swim have been approved.

A total of �5m will be spent revamping Sherwood Swimming Baths in Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire, Mansfield District Council has confirmed.

The pool will close in March this year to allow the work to be carried out and is due to reopen in January 2010 .

Adlington won gold in the 400 metres and 800 metres freestyle in Beijing.

The council plans to rename the swimming baths the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre when the complex reopens.

The new �5m facility will include an elite athlete training pool and the main pool will increase in size from four lanes to six lanes.

Mayor of Mansfield, Tony Egginton, said: "I am proud that the District of Mansfield will feature such a state-of-the-art swimming and fitness complex.

"For years, many children, including Becky Adlington, our double Olympic gold medallist, have learned to swim at Sherwood Baths and I hope that, thanks to this redevelopment, many future generations will have the opportunity to follow in her footsteps."