Olympian Duncan Goodhew, ambassador for the national pilot project Everyday Swim, launched the initiative for the Kirklees area recently at Dewsbury Sports Centre.

The gold medallist joined a group of schoolchildren from Ravenshall School for games in the water and also swam with a group OWLS members – the Over 50s Weekday Leisure Scheme).

Speaking at the launch, Goodhew said: “Why is swimming so popular? As well as being great exercise, if you put a child in the water, they think it's incredible and they have so much fun.

"In the water, it's the most foreign environment we have on this planet - astronauts train in it because it mimics zero gravity. It's an extraordinary feeling and the closest we get to being in space. it stimulates all the senses.

"The Everyday Swim project is the first of its kind, we are looking in a systematic and methodical way at how to get more people involved in swimming and other pool activities. As we learn these lessons, we can share it throughout the whole country."