WATER has been pumped into Durham City's £12.3m swimming pool for the first time.
The Freeman's Quay leisure centre, in Freeman's Place, is to open in July.
Councillor Carol Woods, the deputy leader of Durham City Council, started the process of filling the pool.
She said: "When the water starts going into the pool, you know the project is nearing completion and, from what I can see, this centre is going to be every bit as striking as we hoped it would."
The 25-metre pool holds 1.3 million litres of water. There is also a learner pool, holding 200,000 litres.
The centre was designed by the William Saunders Partnership and is being built by Morgan Ashurst. It is being paid for with money generated by the Durham Villages Regeneration Company, a public-private partnership between the council and developer Keepmoat.
David Carmichael, from Keepmoat, said: "The pool is taking shape now and the public art will enhance its appearance. I think it will quickly become another iconic Durham building."
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