This picture from 1987 shows a swimming class at Blackburn's now demolished Freckleton Street baths. On the right stands swimming instructor Harry Ward, who worked there till 1938.

Mr Ward gained fame in the 1900s as a local comedian and top open water swimmer, training in the town's Queen Park lake for then then popular mile races in rivers like the Thames and Mersey.

The swimwear was popular, but not very supportive when the boys would take to diving, as they were tie on cotton trunks, that could easily come off.

Opened in 1868, Freckleton Street boasted two plunges, but things were still a squeeze for the town's swimmers until the opening of Belper Street baths in 1906 alleviated the space problem.

The Belper Street baths had 48 changing cabins, with one for children. It also had 17 slipper baths for men, 20 for women, three foam bath suites and a Russian bath.

Mixed bathing raised eyebrows during this time, as some people still preferred the separate times, but eventually people began to mix more.

Swimming was a huge part of culture for children, as some schools even today still take children to learn how to swim.

It was revamped in December 1992 as Daisyfield, and are still open today as swimming baths.