Pools shut despite obesity fears

More than half of London's pupils can not swim 25 metres

Eight swimming pools have closed in London since Labour came to power despite fears that lack of exercise is contributing to obesity levels.

The London Pools Campaign says many of London's children are leaving school without being able to swim.

The government says it is working with the Amateur Swimming Association to develop swimming as a sport.

It also says a new east London pool, part of the 2012 Olympic bid plan, will go ahead even if the bid fails.

In Hackney there is only one open pool after the new Clissold Pool shut because of structural problems in 2003.

'Expanding waistlines'

A survey in the borough in 2003 found more than 20% of children left school unable to swim 25 metres.

And one in 10 six-year-olds are classes as obese in the UK.

Ashley Norris of the London Pools Campaign told BBC London: "I think we've got into a situation where children are leaving school without being able to swim.

"You've got people with expanding waistlines, you've got people who want to swim for pleasure who are having to travel distances.

"A lot of residents who live near the Clissold Pool in Stoke Newington are going to Islington to go and swim, that's their nearest pool and that's two to three miles away."

The number of pool closures in the capital came to light when Vauxhall MP Kate Hoey tabled a question on the issue in the Commons.