BARNOLDSWICK'S West Craven Sports Centre has been awarded £119,000 to help with the increased cost of running its swimming pool.

The leisure centre on Kelbrook Road was one of two Pendle Council owned public facilities to receive funding from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund.

Wavelengths in Nelson received £233,973 from phase one of the fund, it has been announced. 

Councillor Asjad Mahmood, leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: “With the rising costs of running our swimming pools, this is a very welcome boost.

“It means we can continue to provide excellent facilities for our residents which are so vitally important because they contribute to both physical and mental health and wellbeing.”

Wavelengths and West Craven Sports Centre are two of 196 publicly owned leisure facilities across England to receive the lottery-funded support.

Alison Goode, Chief Executive of Pendle Leisure Trust, which manages Pendle’s leisure centres, said: “We are delighted about the support from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund.

“It’s been very challenging recently due to a rise in costs and this funding will help us to continue with our mission to provide good quality services and help keep everyone active. Our swimming pools in particular are so popular with people of all ages.”

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: "Rising energy costs have caused significant issues for our local swimming pools, so ahead of the Budget one of my main asks of the Chancellor was that our local leisure centres were provided with additional support.

"I was delighted the Chancellor announced a £60 million Swimming Pool Support Fund and the news that £353,000 of that is being awarded to Pendle Leisure Trust is wonderful news."

None of North Yorkshire Council owned pools, including Craven Leisure's pool in Skipton, has received any of the funding.