Pools to remain closed after fire

Competitions and leisure pools have been affected

Swimming pools at a sports and leisure complex in Inverness will not reopen this week following a fire.

Hundreds of people, some of them still in their swimming costumes, were evacuated from the Aquadome on Saturday. No-one was hurt.

Staff have been praised for ensuring customers' safety.

Inverness Leisure is now waiting for its insurers to send experts to assess the damage caused by the plant room fire and from smoke.

The building's dry side - which includes gym facilities - remains open as usual.

We are grateful to the staff for the various roles they have played in ensuring our customers safety and undertaking their jobs very professionally and competently Inverness Leisure board statement

General manager James Martin said: "Whilst we are still waiting on discussions with our insurance assessors, it is now clear that the facilities will not reopen this week.

"We would therefore ask that any customers who have booked events in the swimming pools between now and Sunday to note that the facilities will not re-open during this period."

The wet side affected includes a wave pool, flumes, toddler pool, spa pool and a competitions pool.

Evacuees were taken initially to the nearby Floral Hall, before asked to go to a marquee set up for people taking part in the First Monster challenge race around Loch Ness.

They were later reunited with their possessions.

Staff have been praised in a statement from the building and technical committee of Inverness Leisure's board.

It said: "From all accounts it seems processes and procedures have automatically clicked into place and the evacuation has gone like clockwork.

"We are grateful to the staff for the various roles they have played in ensuring our customers safety and undertaking their jobs very professionally and competently."

'Specialist team'

Mr Martin said it was believed the fire started in a control panel for the wave machine and other fun features for the Aquadome's leisure waters.

He said: "In addition to the actual damage in the plant room areas, there will also be a substantial clean-up in all areas of the pools halls as a result of the residue left on surfaces by the smoke.

"Obviously with a building of this size and the heights involved, the clean-up will also need specialist teams and equipment."

Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service has launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze.