STAFF at a leisure centre have raised more than £2000 for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund after completing a 24-hour swimathon.

Members and non-members at Radcliffe Leisure Centre also did their bit by volunteering their time and being sponsored to take part in the fundraiser.

The event, held on Sunday, was held as a tribute to everyone affected in the Manchester attacks including Radcliffe resident John Atkinson, who was a member and a regular visitor to the leisure centre.

Lee Caunce, Duty Manager at Radcliffe Leisure Centre, said: “The team here wanted to do something as a small gesture of all of the hard work that everyone has been doing since the attacks.

“When you compare it to the work that the first responders, emergency services, doctors and nurses who were all on the front line, it was the least we could do.”

He added that when everyone at the leisure centre found out that John Atkinson had been killed in the attack, it really brought home the terrible news.

“When we all heard that the centre had lost one of its own who was known by all the staff and members we decided to carry out a continuous swim to raise funds for everybody affected.”

Starting at 10.30am on Sunday morning, leisure centre staff took it in turns to swim the length of the pool with someone continuously in the pool for the full 24 hours.

As well as the swim, other activities were on hand including a bouncy castle, a cake and refreshment stall, and a raffle with donated prizes from local businesses.

Lee added that whilst the final total raised has not been worked out yet, the figure will be well above £2000.

All proceeds will go to the emergency fund.