A SWIMMING club is ready to make a splash again after spending five months without a pool.

Loftus Swimming Pool closed in November when its filters failed, and only recently reopened.

The timing could not have been worse for Loftus Dolphins Swimming Club because members were making final preparations for the Cleveland County Championships.

Club members were offered the opportunity to train with Whitby Swimming Club but its pool also closed for refurbishment in December and is not due to reopen until the end of this month.

Coach Barbara Wilkinson held talks with Guisborough and Saltburn baths, which each offered the Loftus club a small amount of pool time. Middlesbrough also offered a small number of swimmers the opportunity to train.

But because of all the travelling and the late swimming times on offer, the club has found its membership now 50 per cent down on the level before the pool was closed and is urgently appealing for its old members to return.

Despite all the difficulties over the past few months, the club has still managed to enter swimmers into local and distant galas.

A week ago an event was held in Chester-le-Street where all those who took part achieved personal best times.

Laura Welford collected two gold medals, Andrew Reynolds picked up one silver medal and two bronze medals and Paul Robson finished sixth.

The club held its first session at the end of April. Anyone interested should call (01947) 840977