An athletics coach has claimed victory in his fight to give his teenage running team fair time for training in the swimming pool.

Geoffrey Heys was originally told by staff at the Gloucester Park pool in Basildon that his team of 14 to 16-year-olds was not allowed in during adult swim sessions on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

Mr Heys was furious at the rejection because he said his team, who are all middle-distance runners, needed somewhere warm and sheltered to train during the winter months.

After he contacted the Echo, swimming pool bosses had a change of heart although they have so far declined to comment.

Mr Heys said: "This is great news. It means they can have as much time as others for training. Maybe the pool bosses thought they were just going in to mess about.

"That isn't the case at all because they are serious trainers. They are members of athletics clubs and they need to keep training.

"Doing it in the pool instead of running along tarmac roads in the dark and the wet is much better for them."

Swimming pool manager Frank Palmer declined to comment. The team, most of whom are members of Basildon Athletics Club, were turned away last week.

But now Mr Heys, of Manning Grove in Laindon, said they would be going again next Thursday evening.

The adults-only swim sessions are set up to allow older swimmers a chance to use the pool at quiet times.

Going swimmingly - Geoffrey Heys and his young athletes have won their battle to use the Gloucester Park pool during adult evening sessions

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

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