Swimming pool 'bans children's goggles'

A swimming pool has reportedly banned children from wearing goggles for health and safety reasons.

Dozens of swimmers at the Aqua Splash Festival in Whitwick, Leicestershire reportedly had their eyewear confiscated in case it injured them.

One mother described the rule as “potty” and added: “The funny thing is that the pool even sells goggles at the front counter but bans children from wearing them.”

Meanwhile, a father described the ban as “laughable” and claimed that it was more likely to cause swimmers injury, explaining: “You could see the kids at the end of the session – they all looked like they had been lined up and poked in the eye.”

The festival’s organisers said that they had introduced the ban after advice from the county council.

A council spokesperson insisted that the ruling was valid, explaining: “We have received advice from the Association For Physical Education which advises all councils that pupils should not wear goggles in school swimming lessons unless they have a medical reason to do so.

“The AFPE believes that children wearing goggles are at risk of injury, from colliding with other children or having goggles snapped back in their face.”

The Amateur Swimming Association also supported the move and said: “Our guidance is that goggles should only be worn by children who suffer excessively from the effects of water chemicals.”

By Catriona Wightman