BRADFORD'S elite swimming programme has been saved from an uncertain future, with an Olympic coach brought in to kickstart a new era.

The Bradford Council training scheme had been under threat because of funding cuts, prompting a huge public campaign to save it.

But the authority yesterday confirmed the scheme would not be cut, and that instead the fees the swimmers pay to the Council would rise.

The new cost has yet to be finalised.

The elite training scheme is also enlisting a new technical adviser, Ian Armiger, who was one of the coaches of Team GB during the 2012 London Olympics and is currently a coaching consultant at Loughborough University.

The progress was welcomed by the scheme's competitive arm, the City of Bradford Swimming Club, which said the agreement had "secured the future" of the club.

Chairman David Alexander said: "We want each of our swimmers to have the best possible chance of progressing and we want to raise the performance levels of the club overall, so we are delighted to announce Ian's appointment.

"Enlisting Ian's services, together with the confirmation of the Council's ongoing support for the training scheme, has secured the future of the City of Bradford Swimming Club for our swimmers and allows us to look forward with a huge amount of confidence and excitement."

Mr Alexander said it was the training fees paid by swimmers to the Council, rather than the club's fees, which would increase.

He said: "The training fees will be going up rather than the programme being cut. There are some challenging times ahead for the club but the committee is very enthusiastic and see this as the beginning of a new era.

"We will be using Ian Armiger as a technical adviser and hope to produce a better scheme as a result."

Councillor Imran Khan, the Council's portfolio holder for sport, said: "We are having to make changes in the services we offer because of the year-on-year cuts we have to deliver, but we were keen to ensure our most promising swimmers could still progress at a high standard.

"We have worked in partnership with the City of Bradford Swimming Club and have reached a very positive outcome. The ultimate aim is to ensure our swimmers have the best opportunity to fulfil their potential."

Mr Armiger's swimmers have won medals and titles at World, Commonweath, European and British Championships.

He has strong links with Bradford, having been head coach of the City of Bradford programme from 1984 to 1997.

He will work with the club until at least April 2016, supporting the coaches and at times working at the poolside with the swimmers.

Bradford's elite scheme has helped to train many successful swimmers, including Commonwealth Games swimmer Sian Morgan, who said without it, she would not have succeeded.

The campaign to save the training scheme saw a protest rally held outside City Hall earlier this year, as well as a petition gathered online.