No free swims at champion's pool

Adlington's victory in the 800m race broke a world record set in 1989

The pool where Nottinghamshire's Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington learnt to swim will not be putting on free sessions for under-16s.

The government is offering funding to councils that provide free swimming for under-16s and over-60s.

Mansfield District Council says it cannot afford to put on the free sessions at any of its pools, including Sherwood Baths in Mansfield Woodhouse.

It said funding only covered a fifth of the �250,000 it would actually cost.

How are we going to find the next Sams and Beckys locally? Kay Adlington, Rebbeca Adlington's mother

The authority said other services would suffer if it laid on the free sessions.

The council plans to rename Sherwood Baths the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre after it has undergone a �5m revamp.

Paralympic champion Sam Hynd also learnt to swim at the centre.

Rebecca Adlington's mother Kay Adlington said: "It's a shame really. How are we going to find the next Sams and Beckys locally?

"We do have lots of swimming clubs and we do have very good council swimming lessons, which are being paid for by the parents, but perhaps there is something that could be done there.

"A lot of children are being missed. There is a high proportion of children within school who don't have that skill of being able to swim."

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