Scores of swimmers with disabilities were turned away on Saturday, April 14 when they found Hatfield Swim Centre had been double booked.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Hatfield Swim Centre.Hatfield Swim Centre. (Image: Danny Loo Photography 2016)

Halliwick Penguins, a swimming club for children and adults with disabilities, booked the pool back in 2015 for their regular gala event that invites not only its own members but also people travelling from Harrow, Stevenage and Potters Bar.

Club member Graham Fearsey said: “They messed it right up. We were all stood outside.

“When we asked the woman in charge, she just didn’t care.”

James Barton, 48, is a senior committee member and also planned to join the gala that day. He said: “We put a lot of work into it, we’ve had this gala for a long time.

“This is the first time we’ve had this done to us.”

A spokesperson for Finesse, which runs Hatfield Swim Centre, said: “Due to an administrative error, there was a double booking at the pool this weekend.

“We take full responsibility for this and have spoken to the club to sincerely apologise for the mistake.

“The initial booking was made by an employee who no longer works for Finesse.

“The error seems to have occurred in the handover when that employee left.

“We are currently discussing rescheduling the event for the club for free and exploring how else we can rectify the situation.”