FAMILIES will soon be making a splash at a new town centre shopping and leisure complex.

Swimming classes for babies have been revealed as the latest attraction coming to The Link, the new development being built at the former Bow Street car park.

Water Babies, which teaches babies to swim from as young as one day old, will have its first permanent base in Bolton on the ground floor of the centre.

Nayna Patel, who brought the franchise to Bolton 11 years ago, said: "We have been operating all around the Lancashire area for years without a proper home of our own.

"I am Bolton born and bred, so I am so glad that we will be here in the town centre. It is the support of my home town that has made us what we are.

"It has always been our dream to open our own venue."

The 45-year-old says she hopes The Link will provide a "one-stop shop" for families, with parents able to drop their children off at the pool and then head to the shops and eateries upstairs.

As well as the swimming pool, there will also be a dry area for activities like singing, dancing, and sensory games.

The mum-of-three added: "I think what is being done with The Link is fantastic. The name is right, it is going to link the town together and connect lots of different businesses.

"Hopefully we will be ready to open by September and can look forward to seeing this place develop.

The scheme is being developed by business partners Farhad Azimy and Subhash and Geeta Kotecha, who are planning to use the upper floors for a new hotel and leisure space.

Mr Kotecha said: "Having Water Babies come in is fantastic news for us. Having parents come into the centre and seeing the other activities that will be available for them will be ideal.

"We are now putting the cladding on the outside of the building and most of the structural work is now complete.

"Everything is on schedule, so we will soon be looking at putting windows in and making the place seem a lot more presentable."

Most of the retail units available at the complex have been snapped up by local entrepreneurs and it is hoped the centre will be welcoming its first customers in a matter of months.