Barnsley College's Sport & Public Services Department has teamed up with local sports trust, Barnsley Premier Leisure (BPL), to offer students the chance to train as lifeguards.

The course, which is now being delivered at the Metrodome in Barnsley, means students can achieve their First and National Diploma in Sport qualification and work as fully qualified pool lifeguards anywhere in the country once they have completed the training.

The first group of college students have completed a 10-week programme which covers rescue techniques in a swimming pool situation including: how to deal with spinal injuries; entering the water in a rescue situation; First Aid, including broken bones, asthma and angina; CPR on adults, children and babies; as well as Health and Safety and the general role of a lifeguard.

Barnsley Premier Leisure Trainer Clare Harper said: "Congratulations to the college students for achieving their lifeguard qualifications and we hope to continue working with Barnsley College to deliver the programme to even more of their students in the future.

"The National Pool Lifeguard qualification is very popular and at Barnsley Premier Leisure we train on average 130 lifeguards per year from all across South Yorkshire.

Many of these students are now planning to work as lifeguards either full or part time, with some looking to secure placements on Camp America and other similar working abroad placement schemes."

Barnsley Premier Leisure's venues are Quality Leisure Management (QLM) verified, meaning they are an approved centre for lifeguard training. Each year they undergo verification by the Royal Life Saving Society to achieve this status.