THE name of a £5m swimming pool at Stockton was announced yesterday.

Splash! was chosen through a competition in Stockton Borough Council's magazine, Stockton News.

The eight readers who suggested the name will receive a year's free family pass to the pool when it opens in June.

Councillor Alex Cunningham, the council's cabinet member for education, leisure and cultural services, said: "We were looking for a name which tells people exercise can be fun. Splash! fits the bill exactly.

"We want to encourage as many people as possible to come and make the most of the pool and all its fantastic facilities."

As well as the main pool, there will be a wave machine, learner pool, whirlpool and flume slide, a fitness suite and aerobics room, a cafe and creche facility.

The pool will play an important part in the council's programme for healthy living.

As part of Stockton's participation in the Teesside Health Action Zone, GPs will be able to refer their patients to the pool, where they will be able to take advantage of individually-prepared fitness programmes.

With building work almost finished, contractors will hand over the building to the council in the next few weeks.

Equipment will then be installed, and the 35 staff put through their training.

The council secured National Lottery funding of £2.45m from Sport England for the project.