The Hertfordshire Swimming League has cancelled all the events it was due to hold at The Venue in Borehamwood until March.

The borough council closed the leisure centre's pool outside daylight hours last month, due to continuing problems with its lighting system.

Until the lights are fixed, the league has abandoned the centre, and is taking its competitions to other swimming pools in Hertfordshire.

Hertsmere Flyers, who used to train at the pool for five nights every week, now only use the pool once a week, on Saturday mornings, and have organised a two-hour training session every Friday evening at a school.

Joe Feely, who is involved in both organisations, said he was not convinced that the pool would reopen in early January, as the council has predicted.

He said the Flyers would suffer next year, when they compete in the Hertfordshire Swimming League.

"They will be up against six or seven teams who will have trained hard, and it will show that they have not been able to do the same."

December 12, 2001 12:25