Olympic gold medallist, Duncan Goodhew, has criticised the government for failing to do enough to secure the future of public swimming pools.

Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Goodhew said that he was made aware of around three pools a month coming under threat of closure, suggesting that the government has not set sufficient targets to encourage the growth of swimming.

Sports minister Richard Caborn accepted that there was a problem with disappearing pools, citing the cost of subsidising them as a major factor.

Chief executive of the Amateur Swimming Association, David Sparkes, said: “We need £3bn to bring the current stock of pools up to date, but we must be realistic. There needs to be a financial incentive to encourage local authorities to invest in swimming.”