CROWDS of excited children and their parents yesterday celebrated the eagerly awaited opening of a swimming pool.

The £5.7m pool at the Louisa Centre, in Front Street, Stanley, was to have opened in spring last year, but suffered problems from the outset. Yesterday, everyone agreed it had been worth the wait.

Karl Elvin, ten, of South Stanley, was one of first in the queue with Stuart Ord, 14, of Consett.

He said: "It is absolutely brilliant. It means we don't have to travel far if we want to swim."

His friend Stephen Waite, 12, also of South Stanley said: "The pool is a nice size. I am looking forward to coming often."

Councillor Ann Taylor, Derwentside District Council's executive member for leisure, said: "It has taken a long time, but we now have a quality building, which is what we had to deliver."

Centre manager Colin Symm said: "It is a big day for Derwentside Leisure Ltd. The number of people queuing to get in shows the need there has been in the Stanley area for the new pool."

The six-lane competition pool meets international short course standards. It was designed to help athletes set the best times possible by increasing the depth of the water to three metres.

The centre also has a smaller training pool with a mobile floor that can be raised or lowered to suit all swimmers.