YOUNG swimmers from Haslingden High School have backed a campaign to reopen a pool in the town.

Members of the Broadway school's swimming club, Haslingden Aces, voiced their support of Haslingden All People's Pool Initiative (HAPPI) during a recent meeting with its founder Selina Hope.

The town has not had a swimming pool since November 2013, when Haslingden Baths closed down.

Since then, the local swimming club has been forced to move to Hyndburn Leisure Centre, in Church, and only meets once a week.

Year Eight student Nuala Kearney, who now goes swimming in Ramsbottom, Heywood, Hyndburn and with school at Marl Pits, said: "She asked us whether we want to keep a pool in that building or if we wanted to try to get a new one and we thought it was nicer to keep the building.

“I was part of Haslingden Swimming Club and I was disappointed when they closed the pool. It didn’t need to be shut; it just needed something doing with it.”

Year 7 students Ashlea Jolly and Edward Shaw are also members of Haslingden Aces and used to go regularly to the baths. Both now swim in three different locations each week.

Ashlea said: “Everybody was so happy there. We all loved it and it was more of a social place rather than just for swimming and training.”

Campaign group HAPPI was launched last summer by Selina, who wants to establish a community group to reopen the pool building.

She approached Haslingden High School to canvass support from the students.

She said: "We are so grateful that the young people of Haslingden are as passionate about Haslingden Baths as we are and are.

"We are keen to work with all local schools in the area.

"We have a long journey but we notice how important this is to the community every day when more keen volunteers offer their services.

"Thank you Haslingden High School's swim squad - Haslingden Aces, and deputy head Gill Smith for working with us on this."