KEEPING fit is going to be even easier for retired people and youngsters now that they are to be given free use of the St Albans District Council s swimming pools. Government funding will allow those aged over 60 and under 16 to swim at Westminster Lodge

KEEPING fit is going to be even easier for retired people and youngsters now that they are to be given free use of the St Albans District Council's swimming pools.

Government funding will allow those aged over 60 and under 16 to swim at Westminster Lodge, Bricket Wood and Harpenden pools free of charge.

Welcoming the move, Cllr Roma Mills, Labour Parliamentary candidate for St Albans, said: "We all realise how important it is to take regular exercise and I am sure that the opportunity for a free swim will encourage more local people to take to the water!"

The council has been awarded funding of £245,000 to provide the free swimming sessions for two years starting on April 1, 2009. There is an additional capital grant of £40,000 to improve the swimming pools.