PUPILS and staff celebrated the opening of a £1.4million swimming centre at a special school in Westcliff, marking the culmination of years of planning and fundraising.

The new hydrotherapy swimming pool at Lancaster School was opened by Phil Lane, chief executive of the British Paralympic Association.

The pool caters for students aged from 14 to 19 who have severe learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties, physical and neurological impairments and other medical conditions.

The 10m by 5m pool features a floor which can move up and down to adjust the depth of the water to suit the needs of the students.

There are also coloured fibre optic lights built into the pool and further mood lighting in the pool hall, which can all be synchronised with a sound system.

A hoist system allows students and other users to be hoisted from the changing rooms directly into the pool.

Mr Lane, who had just returned from the Winter Olympics and brought an Olympic torch with him to show the students, said: “The building of facilities like this enables our young people to take the opportunity to do physical activity and sport.

“I would like to pay tribute to everyone here who has helped so much, contributed funds and put their efforts into the design of the building.”

The school raised £100,000 towards the cost of the £1.4million building.

The main project was funded by Southend Council as part of the special school reorganisation programme.

Headteacher Phil Rodbard said: “The school identified the pool we had before was not up to standard.

“So people started fundraising and collecting money towards a new pool. We had the support of the local authority, which provided the extra funding.

“I want to thank everyone for the incredible amount of work they have done in getting this here today.

“It is a tremendous achievement particularly to cater for all of the complex needs of our students, both now and in the future.”

There is also a large training spa at the facility, which has powerful water jets to walk, row or swim against to aid fitness and strengthen muscles.

The facility took ten months to build and was built by Southend contractors A W Hardy and Co which specialise in school and hospital buildings.

The building is also eco-friendly. It has solar water heating panels and a green roof to improve the environment and reduce the water run off from the new building.

The pool will also be used by the community, including Southend Adult Community College’s Westcliff Centre for young adults with complex special educational needs, aquatherapy carer classes for adults with special needs, aqua-babies for baby and toddler classes, and aquatherapy for senior citizens.