CHILDREN and pensioners will be able to swim for free as part of a new scheme in Bolton.

Town hall chiefs have scrapped swimming pool entry fees for under-16s and over-65s in a bid to improve the health of the borough's youngest and oldest residents.

Pensioners will also be able to use, free of charge, local authority-run gyms. Other leisure centre activities will also be free for pensioners.

The move, starting this month, will cost Bolton Council 182,500 a year - but town hall chiefs say the cost will be worth it if the borough's health problems can be improved.

The scheme was a manifesto promise of Bolton Council's ruling Labour group ahead of May's local elections and was approved unanimously yesterday by councillors on the executive committee.

Council and Labour group leader Cllr Cliff Morris said: "This is what we said we would do and I'm very pleased.

"We have some great leisure centres in the town and we want to see more people using them and adopting a healthier lifestyle.

"We want our young and old to be healthy. It will help our children learn how to swim and it will help fight obesity.

"Cost can be a deterrent for someone on a limited pension and for families, so this is really good news."

The entry fee for children is currently 1.55, while pensioners must pay 2.85, unless they have a leisure card which entitles them to a reduced rate of 1.40.

All former council-run leisure facilities, which are now operated by the Bolton Community Leisure Trust, will be involved. Those with a pool are: Farnworth, Horwich, Ladybridge, Sharples, Turton and Westhoughton leisure centres.

The Excel Centre in Manchester Road and the Jubilee Pool in Halliwell, which are still run by the local authority, will also be included.

The scheme will start on July 21 and is expected to cost the council 182,500. It will be paid for from a 600,000 pot set aside for contingencies, and could eventually lead to swimming lessons being free.

Any extra income generated - if a paying parent accompanies their children swimming for example, and spends money in the cafe - will be ploughed back into sports and leisure provision within the facilities.

Sheldon Phillips, chairman of Bolton Community Leisure Trust, said: "The trust welcomes this initiative as it compliments the provision of new facilities by the trust which are specifically targeted at young people."

The swim-for-free scheme will be officially launched at Horwich Leisure Centre next Tuesday.

Guests will include Olympic and Commonwealth Games medal-winning swimmer Anthony Howard, and Paralympic swimmer and world record holder Rachel Latham, both from Bolton.

Free access will be granted to pools and leisure centres for anyone who appears to meet the age criteria from July 21, although staff may ask for proof of age.

From September, anyone wishing to take advantage of the offer will need to have a registered Smart Card. They are issued by the council.