OLYMPIC swimming stars made waves in Radcliffe to celebrate the opening of the town’s new swimming pool.

Five-time Olympian and former world champion Mark Foster was among the special guests at the leisure centre in Spring Lane on Friday, along with around 100 pupils from St Mary’s, Gorsefield, Wesley Methodist and Chapelfield primary schools.

The new temporary facility, the result of a collaboration between Bury Council and private sector swimming business Total Swimming, also hosted a community open day on Saturday, which was opened by Bury's world champion boxer Scott Quigg.

Former Team GB swimmer Steve Parry, managing director of Total Swimming, said at the Friday opening ceremony: “We are lucky to have worked with Bury Council to have built the a facility of this kind. This pool can be in place for a number of years, which is obviously very important after the closure of the old leisure centre.

“It’s wonderful to get so many athletes down here today to work with the kids and put on some great activities.

“As athletes, we are passionate about making sure the next generation has the opportunity to get into the water just like we did.

“In the last 10 years we have seen a decline in swimming participation across the board, which is really scary, and that has coincided with a drop-off in the number of pools.

“People who think those two factors aren’t linked must be completely nuts.

“Nearly half of the children in this country can’t swim – that is absolutely insane, and it’s why we need facilities like this.”

The new pool, which can accommodate up to 80 people, is the UK’s first 25-metre demountable public swimming pool built for under £1 million.

It has been built after the former leisure centre in Green Street was closed in December 2013 due to storm damage.

Mark Foster said: “Without access to facilities like this, kids just don’t get the chance to learn to swim. We are privileged to have swum to a very high standard and all of that started because we had a pool near us when we were growing up.

“For a long time, I just presumed that the vast majority of schools had access to a nearby swimming pool, but I know through a lot of the work I’ve done with Total Swimming that it’s not always the case."

He added: “I’m blown away by the transformation that has happened here and in so many other places I’ve seen recently.

“Rather than leaving kids with their computer games and so on, we need to take them down to the pool to have fun. Without facilities like this that simply can’t happen, and we need more of this across the country.”

Paul Heaton, headteacher of St. Mary’s RC Primary, said: “The children are delighted that swimming facilities are back in Radcliffe again. As a school, we make great use of our local sports facilities and we welcome the new pool as it’s something the community really needs. Hopefully we can get all the local schools back together for the annual swimming gala.”

Debbie Dackombe, a teacher at Chapelfield Primary, added: “So many towns are losing their swimming pools so to have a facility like this is a fantastic opportunity. It’s great to know that Bury Council is committed to giving our children the opportunity to swim and keep physically active.”

Bury Council leaders say they are continuing to pursue long-term plans for a new permanent leisure centre built on the Green Street site.

Cllr Rishi Shori, deputy leader of Bury Council, said: "I would like to thank the people of Radcliffe for their patience whilst the pool and gym has been closed.

“We promised that we would find a solution and we have delivered on that. I am sure that they will agree that it has been worth the wait.

“We now have excellent facilities that are ready and available for use. The investment of £1.25 million in this facility reiterates Labour's commitment to regenerate the heart of Radcliffe."