A KEIGHLEY club which over the years has taught thousands of children to swim is closing.

Dwindling membership has left Keighley Swimming Club floundering.

And on Monday the group, formed more than 120 years ago, will meet for the final time at the town's leisure pool.

"It's incredibly sad," said former chairman and president Martyn Long.

"Keighley has lost a vital asset.

"I learned to swim myself as a child through the club – and I'm now in my 50s – and there will be thousands more people in the same position who owe a debt of gratitude to it.

"I then taught my own kids to swim and became one of the many, willing volunteer teachers with the club.

"I still get folk coming up to me saying 'you taught me to swim', which gives me a great feeling."

Club sessions used to be held at the old Spencer Street baths, before transferring to the new pool at Victoria Park when it was built.

Meetings were held on Monday and Friday evenings.

Mr Long, of Keighley, said: "I really feel for the volunteers who have had to make this decision, I know how tough it would have been for them.

"I've so much respect for them.

"Unfortunately, dwindling numbers and the cost of hiring a pool has made closure inevitable.

"We taught youngsters from five years old upwards and for years we were oversubscribed. We would have over 100 people there on club nights, learners and improvers.

"It was a cost-effective way of learning to swim but also you were being taught alongside your friends.

"There were also annual galas and presentation evenings.

"I know many people will have very fond memories and will be saddened by this news."

Club chairman Steve Marshall, who with wife Janet has been involved for years, said it had become increasingly difficult to keep the club going.

"Membership has fallen but also we just couldn't find people to carry the torch anymore," he said.

"People weren't coming along to the committee meetings or taking on duties.

"It's very sad."

The club has taught children, from the basics of learning to swim up to pre-competition level, through to the age of 16.

It also offered adult swimming, both tuition and for fitness.

Among those who learned to swim at the club was acclaimed long-distance swimmer, Kendal Mellor.