After a long fight to save Silsden's swimming Pool from sinking, the John Stanley Bell Memorial Pool re-opened for lessons on Monday.

The former Hothfield School pool was taken over by Silsden Parish Council, in September of last year, 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.

Joanne Conway, Swimstart's co-ordinator, says: "We have started lessons already and in fact the first children were back in the pool on Monday afternoon.

"It was a bit of a mad house but they all seemed to enjoy it."

She adds: "We would like to thank all those who have helped "

The pool will be officially opened in early June by Mrs Audrey Bell, the widow of the late Mr John Stanley Bell.

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.

Weekly lessons on Tuesday and Thursday evenings can now be booked.

Lessons are from 4pm until 7pm, with a possibility of lessons on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings if enough interest is shown.

Bookings are now being taken for lessons in the Spring Bank Holiday week, May 29 to June 1. Four lessons will cost £10.50 per child.

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

* The pool has been given a £750 grant by the Craven Trust to help with finishing touches to its refurbishment.

Mrs Conway says: "The grant will assist with a re-tiling project within the pool area. It will enable us to raise the standards within the pool sooner than we had hoped."

The chairman of the Craven Trust, John Sheard, says: "We feel it's an excellent programme they've got going and they've got a lot of support in Silsden.

"It's very well run by an enthusiastic committee and we are happy to support them."