THE MAN from Sports England, he says Yes.

That is the message from the National Lottery agents who officially confirmed that Stanley is to get a new £4.5m swimming pool.

As revealed exclusively in The Northern Echo earlier this week, after four years, three bids and one appeal, Derwentside District Council has finally been awarded £3.5m to build the 25-metre pool in the town centre.

Work will begin on the project, which will include a learner pool, new reception, caf and fitness centre, in October. Council bosses hope the much-anticipated facility will be completed by spring 2003.

The council raised £850,000 for the project with a further £150,000 coming from the private sector.

It is now appealing to potential new partners to invest in the project.

Stanley ward councillor Lynn Boyd, the council's portfolio holder for leisure, praised all involved for not letting the dream go despite numerous setbacks.

At the official announcement at The Louisa Centre, she said: "I hope this shows people we are turning the tide in Stanley and making it a good place to live and bring up children."

Mike Clark, the council's director of public services, said the good news was down to a "significant degree of tenacity" by the council.