Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington will open a new swimming pool in Coatbridge at the weekend.

The new facility on Coatbank street will cater to families with children aged 0 to 11 and will open on September 10, offering experienced coaches, online progress tracking, fun lessons and modern facilities.

From Saturday there will be free introductory lessons, with official lessons to start on Monday.

The venue, named Swim! Coatbridge, has been brought to life by Olympian-led company Sporting House and Adlington, a co-founder, will be there to open the centre.

She won two gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games, taking first place in the 400m and 800m freestyle, as well as two bronze medals in the same disciplines in London four years later.

Glasgow Times: Swim! Coatbridge opens on September 10Swim! Coatbridge opens on September 10 (Image: Sporting House)

Adlington said: "As schools and leisure facilities closed and the pandemic left children with less spaces to get active, we needed to take action and give kids the chance to get moving, socialise with others and hopefully discover a new hobby.

“Swimming is also an essential life-saving skill and we are determined to break down barriers, whether that be a lack of facilities, teachers or lesson availability, to make sure swimming is accessible for all children.

“With the opening of the new Coatbridge centre, children will not only learn to swim, but will gain a whole host of transferable skills sure to benefit them as they grow up. It has been a joy to watch a new swim facility take shape in my hometown, and I hope it encourages local children to learn to love the water as much as I do.”

The Coatbridge centre is offering FREE swim intro sessions once the centre is open. To register your interest and book your child’s free session click here