LEARNER swimming pools at four County Durham primary schools are to be closed to save money.

Durham County Council's cabinet has approved the closures at Fishburn, Shildon, Kelloe and Barnard Castle.

The closure of the first three pools - the county has 17 - was proposed two years ago along with the closure of the pool at Crook, which has since closed and been demolished - to save a total of £3.5m on maintenance and repairs.

The move attracted opposition and there have since been efforts to find alternative sources of funding.

But so far, offers of significant funding have not been forthcoming.

Education director Keith Mitchell said there was "over-provision'' of pools in the county and many were not being fully used.

He said the council wanted to ensure youngsters did not have to travel too far to alternative pools and was looking to get a good geographical spread of facilities.

He said even with the closures there would be over provision and the council may have to review the situation again.

Shildon's pool will stay open until the refurbishment of the pool at Woodhouse Close, Bishop Auckland, is completed.

The closure of Barnard Castle was requested by the head because of low use.

John Quigley, Labour councillor for Shildon South-West, has been looking at alternative ways of keeping the local pool open.

He said: "I'm more than disappointed, to be honest.

"We may try to get a partnership or something to keep it going. It's not over yet. I'll be devoting my energies to getting a partnership.''

Independent councillor for Rookhope John Shuttleworth said: "There is plenty of money spent in the wrong places.

"Children should have priority and it is very important that they learn to swim.

"What happens if they fall in a pond or a river and they can't swim?

"We should be providing the best possible services for County Durham and we should be making people our priority.''