THE pools at Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre will open to the public on Monday, March 9 with Olympic double swimming gold medallist Rebecca Adlington firing the official starting gun 11 days later.

The announcement confirms that the £13.5 million complex on Feilden Street, which replaces the 26-year-old Waves Water Fun Centre, has been completed on budget and ahead of schedule.

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Developed jointly by the borough council and Blackburn College, it includes sports hall, a gym, an aerobics studio, health suite, two pools and two fun water flumes.

It was originally due to open in the autumn.

Waves, opened by Princess Anne 25 years ago, will close on February 22 at the end of the half term week.

Customers can use all other leisure centres/pools in the borough during the handover period.

Students from the college and community sports groups have been using the two sports halls since September.

OBE Ms Adlington, 25, won gold medals in the 400m and 800m freestyle events at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing before retiring in 2013. She also won bronze medals in the same events at the London Games in 2012.

Around 100 invited representatives and volunteers from local sports clubs and organisations along with college students will take part in a question and answer session with her, after the official unveiling of the plaque on March 20.

Waves will be demolished next month and the site has been sold for development by the council as part of ongoing regeneration of the town centre.

Tory council leader Mike Lee welcomed the announcement: “It is excellent news the new pools will open ahead of schedule.

“It will mean people can start enjoying these new facilities earlier than expected and shows what can be done by working in partnership.

“Waves needed replacing, as it and the new centre is well worth an opening ceremony by an Olympic gold medallist.”

Blackburn with Darwen borough leisure boss Damian Talbot said: “Waves was state of the art when it first opened more than 25 years ago and has provided a lot of fun for a lot of people over the years.

“Since then, people’s needs and the facilities or activities available to us have changed dramatically and the new sports and leisure centre will be a first-class venue for the borough.

“Sports facilities and activities at the new centre will be second to none but we will not lose the fun side and I am sure the new pool and flumes will bring visitors from far and wide – just as Waves has done over the years.”