IT'S a sport that boasts Prince William among its biggest fans and can make millionaires of top players in the sun-kissed countries that border the Mediterranean.

So it may come as a bit of a surprise that water polo is now being launched with a splash at an open-air swimming pool in the rather less exotic location of Stanhope, in Weardake, County Durham.

Coaching sessions are being held in the pool every Sunday morning and are already creating a lot of interest.

Now, the association that runs the pool - the only open-air facility in County Durham - hopes the sport could play its part in securing the pool's long-term future.

Water polo originated in Britain in the early 1900s, with British teams winning gold medals at the first five Olympics they entered.

Despite this, the sport never really took off in this country - particularly in the North.

One exception is Sedgefield 75 Water Polo Squad, which, with 70 junior members, is the biggest in Britain.

Children from as far away as Kendal, in the Lake District, and Carlisle, Cumbria, travel to play in its teams, which compete all over the UK.

Now Sedgfield 75's chief coach, George Carpenter, aims to turn the tide by bringing water polo to Stanhope.

"I read about the open-air pool trying to drum up more interest and offered to help out by starting water polo training for children," he said.

"If you're not involved in aqua sports, it's fair to say you would regard water polo as very much a Cinderella sport."

But that's far from the case in Mediterrean countries such as Italy and Spain, where they have hot and sunny climates.

"There, it's a massive sport and very big business," said Mr Carpenter. "A professional water polo player in Spain can command £1m a year.

"It's also played in nearly every country in the world, making it the second biggest team sport next to soccer."

Weardale Open-Air Swimming Pool Association, which helped salvage the Stanhope pool from a financial crisis five years ago, regards the introduction of water polo as "a nice bonus" in their battle to put the pool on the map.

Its chairman, environmentalist Dr Peter Thompson, said: "With about £20,000 in grants from various sources, notably the Market Towns Initiative, we have come a long way in terms of improving the amenities and quality of the pool.

"Even Wear Valley District Council have given a commitment to give us £9,000 a year to help run it. It is as if they have suddenly realised it is an important asset for the dale.

"If we can put a water polo team together, that would be the icing on the cake."

* Stanhope open-air swimming pool is open as follows: Mon to Fri - public 2pm-5pm; adults only 6pm-7pm; parents and toddlers 2pm-4pm; Sat and Sun - 11am- 7pm (closed 2.45pm-3.30pm). Water polo training sessions - Sunday 10am-noon. Entry is £2 adults; £1.10 children aged three to 15; £1.40 pensioners/disabled and £5.50 family ticket.