Nottinghamshire swimming pools will be opened FREE of charge this weekend as the start of the summer holidays begin.

On the weekend of Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th July, pools will open their doors for everyone to enjoy free swimming. The timing of the free swimming weekend coincides with schools breaking up for the summer holidays, and is designed to encourage more people to swim regularly.

Families in particular are encouraged to take advantage of this initiative, which has been organised through a collaboration of the various city and district councils around the county, who have £25,000 to make it happen.

Swimming is an excellent form of exercise that works all areas of the body without putting pressure on joints. It is also a great fun and a perfect way to shape up and lose weight as it can burn up to 600 calories an hour.

Olympic swimmer, Rebecca Adlington, 19, is supporting the campaign as she prepares to fly out to Beijing to compete for Great Britain in the 800m and 400m freestyle, as well as the 4x200m freestyle relay. She said:

“I learned to swim at my local council run pool in Sherwood and joined the local club. I have been lucky enough to make it to the Olympics, but the important thing for most people is to enjoy the freedom of the water and take advantage of the free swimming weekend.”

“Swimming is a great way to stay in shape. Swimmers have really toned physiques and strong heart and lungs. You don’t have to be an Olympic swimmer to be fit through swimming, just going a couple of times a week makes a big difference to your health.”

Swimming is a great family fun activity and is the perfect way to keep children safe and entertained during the school holidays. Swimming is also a life skill that could save your life one day.

Regular swimming forms part of a healthy and active lifestyle. The Shape Up Notts! Campaign is encouraging people to exercise regularly and has a free web site, www.sportnottinghamshire.co.uk, that offers advice on taking part in a range of sports. It also has a points table where you can log and keep track of your exercise. Swimming moderately for an hour can earn 450 points to add to your total and enable you to compete against friends or add to your workplace total, where businesses are competing for two £2,500 prizes.

Simon Starr of Sport Nottinghamshire said: "The free swimming weekend was hugely popular last year, and we are encouraging as many people as possible to go down to their local pool and enjoy themselves.  Nottinghamshire is ahead of the game as the government is talking about making swimming free by 2012, but the various councils around the country have got together to offer this free swimming weekend now in time for the school holidays."

Participating pools in Nottingham are:

NOTTINGHAM

• Beechdale Swimming Centre,
• Clifton Leisure Centre
• John Carroll Leisure Centre
• Noel Street Leisure Centre
• Portland Leisure Centre
• Victoria Leisure Centre
• Southglade Leisure Centre
• Ken Martin Leisure Centre

ASHFIELD

• Edgewood Leisure Centre,
• Hucknall leisure Centre,
• Sutton Pools Complex,

BASSETLAW

• Retford Leisure Centre
• Worksop Leisure Centre
• Bircotes Leisure Centre

BROXTOWE

• Bramcote Leisure Centre,
• Kimberley Leisure Centre,

GEDLING

• Arnold Leisure Centre
• Calverton Leisure Centre
• Carlton Forum Leisure Centre

MANSFIELD

• Water Meadows Swimming Complex
• Sherwood Baths
• Meden Sports Centre

NEWARK & SHERWOOD

• Southwell Leisure Centre
• The Grove Leisure Centre
• Rainworth Leisure Centre
• Dukeries Leisure Centre

RUSHCLIFFE

• Bingham Leisure Centre
• Cotgrave Leisure Centre
• East Leake Leisure Centre
• Keyworth Leisure Centre
• Rushcliffe Leisure Centre

For further information and contact details please contact Vanessa at Vanessa.clements@perfectmotion.org or call 01159 258777.