AFTER more than five years, four multi-million pound Lottery bids, drastic cost cutting and major planning changes work finally began on Stanley's £4.5m swimming pool yesterday.

Local hero Glenn McCrory cut the first sod while taking a trip down memory lane at the building site of the swimming pool yesterday.

The 25m pool is being built with £3m National Lottery funding, granted through Lottery agents Sport England, and a further £1.6m raised by Derwentside District Council.

Additional money is still being sought to include enhancements such as a hydrotherapy pool for disabled people.

It is hoped the building, at the Louisa sports centre, in Stanley town centre, will be completed by spring 2003.

The council's bid to build the pool after the 30-year-old Burns Pool was demolished due to structural faults looked dead in the water several times. The cash was only granted at the fourth attempt and is less than half the £7m originally applied for.

Cabinet member for leisure at Derwentside council Lyn Boyd said: "I think some people haven't quite been able to believe we were successful in being awarded £3m, with the pool remaining a bit of a dream for many.

"Now that things are actually beginning to happen, they can all start thinking about the reality of it all and look forward to having a brand new swimming pool on their doorstep."

Ex-cruiser weight world champion McCrory climbed aboard a digger to cut the first sod at the rear of the sports centre - the place where he won the IBF title 11 years ago.

McCrory, originally from Annfield Plain, and now living near Burnhope, went on to reminisce about the first - and last - job he ever had, as a youth opportunity scheme swimming pool attendant, at the old Burns Pool, which was demolished in 1997.

The sports presenter for Sky Television said he hoped the pool might kick-start a regeneration for Stanley. He said: "Stanley's my area and I do anything I can to promote it.

"Other towns like Consett and Chester-le-Street seem to have moved on a bit more than Stanley. I just hope this does some good.