A SWIMMING club is still rebuilding itself — three years after its local pool was shut.

Major structural decay caused by severe storm damage resulted in the closure of Radcliffe Swimming Pool in May 2015.

More than three years on, Radcliffe Swimming and Waterpolo Club says its greatest challenge is to rebuild the team it lost when the Green Street pool shut.

But the club, which was formed in 1899 and now operates out of Radcliffe Leisure Centre, is regaining its strength.

To mark its achievements, Radcliffe Swimming Club is organising a festival for its entire staff team, competitors and all those who have stood alongside it.

Swimming coordinator Emma Jackson said: "The club's success is due mainly to everyone supporting each other. The biggest part of any success is making our swimmers believe in themselves so that they can achieve things they never thought possible.

"We have two teams and are currently setting the groundwork for a third."

When it was first founded, Radcliffe Swimming Club only allowed men to join but that began to shift during the 1920s.

Throughout its history, the club has produced Olympic swimmers including Martin Smith and Pauline Sillett, International Water Polo players, National Life Saving Championship teams, record breaking Channel Swims and currently has some rising potential.

There are 219 swimmers in the club today, making it one of the largest in the area. However, it is not without its challenges.

Ms Jackson said: "Our biggest challenge at the minute is rebuilding the team that we lost when our pool closed. We are still without a pool of our own.

"Our second goal is a restructure. There are development ideas being discussed at the moment but we are just at idea stage."

A new market manager has been appointed as well as a swim coordinator, to join head coach Darren Knowles and team manager Rob Hearne.

This year, Radcliffe is celebrating its victory over Bury in the pool, as well as strong waterpolo results.

Ms Jackson said: "For me, Radcliffe was somewhere I wanted to invest my time. It's a club that's not about money or profits but about the love of the sport.

"Every one of our volunteers does it because they love teaching, and they do it fantastically for that reason.

"I would like to congratulate our entire club for all their hard work and dedication."

A family fun day will be held at Radcliffe Leisure Centre on Sunday, August 26.

For 50p per person, families are invited to enjoy the bouncy castle, barbecue, sponge throwing, sports, browse stalls and more, between 10am and 3pm.