MORE than 300 swimmers took part in the first major competition to be held at Worcester’s £10.5million Perdiswell Leisure Centre.
The venue, which is operated by Freedom Leisure for the City Council, hosted Worcester Swimming Club’s Autumn Open Meet earlier this month.
Swimmers from across the region, including Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Halesowen, Bromsgrove among many others competed at the gala which is open to swimmers aged from nine upwards.
More than 250 spectators also cheered the athletes on.
It was the first competition to be held at the leisure centre since it reopened in January following a £10.5 million revamp by the City Council.
Since the venue reopened it has seen an increase of 1,962 members with 1,649 youngsters currently attending swimming lessons at Perdiswell Leisure Centre on a regular basis.
Mayor of Worcester, Coun Steve Mackay, awarded medals and certificates to the winners.
He said: “Worcester City Council opted to build an eight-lane swimming pool so that it would be possible to hold regional swimming competitions of this nature.
“It is therefore fantastic to see the pool being used for this purpose, and I am sure that it will be the first of many major swimming galas hosted at Perdiswell.”
