YOUNGSTERS made a splash at the grand opening of a brand new swimming pool last week.

Children were invited to try out the new demountable pool at Rivermead Leisure Centre on Friday, January 12.

The temporary pool has been put in place to plug the gap after Arthur Hill pool in East Reading was shut down in 2016.

Meanwhile, Central Pool is set to close down later this month.

Councillor Sarah Hacker, Reading Borough Council's lead member for sport, said: “I’m delighted to celebrate the opening of the new pool, which has been built to a very high standard. I’m looking forward to taking a dip in the pool on Friday.

“Pools of this kind have been used successfully in other parts of the country to bridge the gap between old pools closing and new facilities being built.

"The demountable at Rivermead will provide continuity of swimming in Reading whilst the council works towards its ambition of delivering modern, new swimming facilities for Reading.”

Campaigners hit back at the council over a lack of swimming facilities in the wake of Arthur Hill pool's closure.

The cash-strapped council admitted it could not fund the £700,000 to repair the run-down site.

Plans are in place to build a new community pool in Palmer Park and a replacement pool at Rivermead.

The temporary pool will remain in place until the permanent pool opens.

Paul Shearman, partnership manager for Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), which operates Rivermead, added: “We are delighted to be able to work in partnership with the council to support the introduction of the demountable pool at Rivermead.

"GLL is committed to offering quality services at affordable prices for the local community, and the demountable pool will certainly offer fantastic swimming provision for local people.”