ANYONE for a swim? From April 1, Hatfield Swim Centre will be offering free swimming to people aged over 60, or 16 and under. Welwyn Hatfield Council has received funding for the next two years from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, as part of t

ANYONE for a swim?

From April 1, Hatfield Swim Centre will be offering free swimming to people aged over 60, or 16 and under.

Welwyn Hatfield Council has received funding for the next two years from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, as part of the Government's �140m drive to offer more opportunities for people to get involved in sports.

The centre, managed by Finesse Leisure, previously offered free swimming sessions during the school holidays, an offer still available for selected sessions.

Children already registered for free swimming during the holidays will be automatically transferred onto the new programme.

Bob Jewell, Welwyn Hatfield Council's director of finance and operations, said: "This is a very welcome programme for the borough.

"Securing the Government funding for free swimming for under-16s and over-60s allows us to provide a great service to a lot of people.

"We offered free swimming during the school holidays and it proved very successful, so to offer it for the coming years is fantastic."