OLDER swimmers who are now forced to pay for swimming warn they will still be out of pocket even though leisure bosses have cut prices.

Protesters told the Tele that Inverclyde Leisure's decision to reduce pay-as-you-go entry does not go far enough.

Inverclyde Council's recent decision to axe free swimming for over-60s as part of their budget cuts was met with a furious response from pensioners.

Leisure bosses have now announced plans to reduce entry fees and improve a loyalty scheme.

But protester Ann Munro, from Port Glasgow, said: "It is still not good enough to reduce it by 50p.

"I am not worried about myself.

"I still work and I can afford it but there are pensioners who went all the time who can't.

"They will still be paying a lot to swim two or three days a week.

"I just think you live here all your life, you contribute, spend your money here, pay your council tax in the area and they take away the one thing that you get from them."

Councillor Ronnie Ahlfeld, an Inverclyde Leisure director and the district's designated sports champion, today welcomed the compromise on admission charges.

He said: "I am pleased that Inverclyde Leisure have revised and reduced the swimming prices for Inverclyde residents over the age of 60.

"All Inverclyde residents over 60 are entitled to receive a loyalty card."

Around 1,000 people have now signed an online petition calling for a u-turn on the end of free swimming for over-60s.

Unhappy customer Ann said she contacted her local politicians including MSP Stuart McMillan for support.

She added: "We have had no support from local politicians whatsoever.

"They are supposed to be elected to help us.

"I was unhappy about other comments I read saying that pensioners can go out and walk for free.

"I was speaking to a couple of older women at the pool who are nearly 80 and can't climb the stairs, but they manage to go for a swim.

"How would they be able to walk instead?"