THE grandfather who gave talented swimmer Lyndon Longhorne his first taste of the sport has been hit by rising prices at his local pool.

Terry Wheeldon has complained that the cost of swimming at Glenholme pool, in Crook, more than doubled when Durham County Council took it over on April 1.

It came the same day as free swimming sessions were introduced for people over 60 and under 16.

Lyndon, 13, is bidding to swim for Britain in the Paralympic Games in 2012.

The council said the free swimming scheme received outside funding and was not connected with the increase, which came about when charges were standardised across the county.

Mr Wheeldon, 57, took Lyndon to Glenholme as a baby to help him recover from operations to amputate his legs, his right arm and the fingertips of his left hand to save his life after he contracted meningitis.

Lyndon took to the sport straight away and regular swimming kept his skin supple, meaning skin graft operations could be postponed.

He started training for the Paralympics in December and a few weeks later won a gold, four silver and two bronze medals at a national event in Sheffield.

Mr Wheeldon said: “If the prices had been at this level when Lyndon was younger, I might never have taken him to the pool.

“I am furious that Durham County Council have done this. The old Wear Valley council kept their prices low.

“I had a heart attack when I was 35 and swim to try to keep fit. I paid £1.15p one day and £2.35p when I went back two days later.

“It was a reasonable price to encourage people to exercise.

It may not sound very much, but it mounts up when you go a few times.”

Mr Wheeldon was offered an £11.75p off-peak monthly ticket.

Nigel Dodds, the council’s sport and leisure services area manager, said: “The price has gone up because it must adhere to the new county- wide concessionary rate.

“The Durham County Council extended free swimming campaign is entirely funded by the Government and NHS County Durham.

“No charges have risen as a result of the introduction of this hugely successful programme.”