A SWIMMING club has been left in limbo after it was told it could not use its usual pool.

Pioneer 79 Club has trained at Accrington Academy for eight years and had two years left on its contract but in April officials were given one month's notice because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The move left them without a home and missing out on more than 50 hours of pool time a week.

Rob Moss, lead coach, said it has left the club and swimmers in a 'desperate state'.

He said: "It is an awful situation. Members have been even going in lakes to get practice.

"We have been scrambling to get pool time by having some at Marl Pits in Rawtenstall and then some water time on a month by month deal at QEGS in Blackburn but it's far from ideal.

"We have made a number of young coaches and teachers redundant and at present have 300 kids in our learn to swim programme who can't return.

"They are in their first stages of learning and swimming is such a vital life skill.

"The clubs focus is now on securing its future.

"We are very grateful to QEGS and Marl Pits for fitting us in."

Rob has coached at the club for 18 months and now believes Accrington Academy should be letting the community use the facility.

He said: "Accrington Academy have kept their pool closed since March. For us and the community having this fantastic new facility sitting there unused when people are desperate for any opportunity to exercise or to learn to swim is so wrong.

"The lights are on and the pool has to be heated still even if people are not using it and you can't get rid of the water.

"If it was down to a Covid-safety issue then fine but the national governing body have said it is fine for swimming to continue and we have not had any Covid-related issues from the club so that shows we are taking it seriously.

"We have reached out to James Kerfoot the headteacher at the school but unfortunately he won’t meet with us."

A spokesperson for Accrington Academy said: "We are keen to maximise use of our onsite facilities but, due to Covid, this has been extremely difficult this year and will remain so until we have certainty in the future.

"We are committed to community use and look forward to a wide range of groups using the facilities in the future."