Swimming pools due to get £0.5m for improvements

Corby International Pool will replace its lighting with more energy-efficient LED bulbs

Four swimming pools in Northamptonshire are in line to benefit from more than half a million pounds to improve facilities and make them more energy-efficient.

Rushden's Splash Leisure Pool and Daventry Leisure Centre and will both receive about £250,000 from the government.

Corby International Pool and Danes Camp Leisure Centre in Northampton will get about £30,000 from the National Lottery.

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, from Sport England, said: "Swimming pools and leisure centres are vital community resources."

Danes Camp Leisure will replace its pool covers

More than £60m is due to be shared among 300 facilities in England.

Daventry Leisure Centre will receive £246,500 for new pool covers and micro-filtration systems.

The Splash Leisure Pool is getting £265,376 for solar panels and to replace its gas boilers, which are more than 20 years old.

Corby's International Pool will get £38,106 for new pool covers and to replace the fluorescent lighting with LED bulbs.

Danes Camp is to receive £30,000 for new pool covers.

The government recently published its new sport strategy aimed at getting 2.5 million more adults and one million more young people meeting the recommended amount of weekly exercise.

Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said: "Millions of people swim every year in England, but increased energy costs mean some pools are struggling financially."