A rescued Pool opened with an official splash as the Lord Mayor of Bradford and the Mayor of Silsden turned up their trousers for a paddle on Sunday.

The John Stanley Bell Memorial Pool reopened for lessons at the beginning of April, but was officially opened last weekend by Mr Bell's widow, Audrey.

Lord Mayor Cllr Stanley King and Mayor of Silsden Cllr Lawrence Walton had a celebratory paddle in the pool, which was saved at the 11th hour by Silsden Parish Council.

Cllr Walton said: "It was brilliant. Everyone enjoyed it.

"There's been a lot of hard work but this is just the end of the beginning. We have a lot yet to do and I am going to make this my charity focus as Mayor. We are already planning activities to keep raising funds for improvements."

The former Hothfield School pool was taken over by Silsden Parish Council last September to save it from closure when it became too much of a financial burden on the school's educational budget.

A council committee, Swimstart, was set up to raise approximately £10,000 to deal with the takeover and running of the pool.

After months of hard work, the committee announced that the pool could open for lessons for its Easter holiday target.

The pool was first opened in 1970 after a long campaign spearheaded by Mr Bell, former head teacher of the then Hothfield Street School, to improve the safety of the town's children.

Mr Bell's two grandsons were among the first of a small group who went in the pool.

As she opened the pool, Mrs Bell said: "John was very saddened when the pool had to close down, because he felt every child in Silsden should have the opportunity to learn to swim. I know he would have been delighted that the pool has reopened.

"I congratulate all who have given their time and money to enable the swimming pool to be available, not only to the schools, but also the community."

Joanne Conway, Swimstart's co-ordinator, said: "Swimstart was honoured that Mrs Bell could open the pool and it was a delightful first engagement for the new Silsden Mayor and Mayoress.

"We were also pleased that the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Bradford, who have both been very supportive of the pool project, could be there.

"Once again our very many thanks to everyone who has helped in whatever shape or form to get the project off the ground.

"We put in a lot of hard work but it was worth it for a job well done and we're now reaping the benefits as bookings are going better than we had hoped for."

Telephone Jakki Birtwistle on 01535 656 918 for bookings and information about swimming lessons.