SCHOOLCHILDREN in the Middlesbrough and Eston area will be having a splashing time this summer thanks to a free swimming scheme.
And pupils from Park End Primary School were the first to dive in.
The project is funded by Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust (PCT), Middlesbrough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Tees Valley Leisure.
Free swimming is provided for under 16s from July 19 until the end of August at the Rainbow Leisure Centre, Coulby Newham; The Neptune Centre, Ormesby Road; Acklam Sports Centre; and Eston Leisure Centre.
The scheme follows a successful pilot last year when 12,000 free swims were provided at Eston Leisure Centre during the summer holidays - a 500 per cent increase on the previous summer.
Professor Peter Kelly, director of public health for Middlesbrough PCT said: "Swimming is great exercise as well as being good fun and this summer holiday the added bonus is that it is free."
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