THE outdoor swimming pools at Haltwhistle always draw large numbers of visitors to the town each year.

With the added attraction of being able to enjoy the sunshine while taking a splash, people travel from all over the county, and further afield, to enjoy the facilities which are the envy of many leisure centres across the North-East.

The outdoor pools truly are a gem for Haltwhistle Leisure and Swimming Centre, and its main asset without doubt.

So it was a huge blow to the centre and the wider community when it was announced that the pools would not reopen this season due to fears of spreading Covid-19.

The leisure centre has reopened under strict guidelines, but visitors have not been able to take a dip like years gone by.