A CAMPAIGN has been launched to raise £25,000 to upgrade the hydrotherapy pool at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Around 60 patients use it every week to ease problems, including weak muscles and bone injuries.

As the pool celebrated its 10th anniversary, physiotherapy manager, Paul Adams, said: 'The pool was built with the hospital in 1979, but it wasn"t opened until 10 years ago because there was no money to fund it.' However, he added that some of the plant work was now suffering from age and leaking pipes, which meant appointments had to be cancelled from time to time.

It is hoped £25,000 can be raised, which will be added to NHS funds to upgrade the pool.

Two-year-old Caitlin Walker from Wemyss Bay, who has cerebral palsy, attends the pool for treatment once a week to encourage her to use her right hand.

Mum Alison donated a cheque for £100 to the pool fund on behalf of Hillend Children"s Centre.

She said: 'I don"t know what we would have done without this pool. Caitlin is using her hand more often. Before, she used to have a clenched fist.' Helen Mulgrew from Port Glasgow added that her 10-year-old daughter Emma, who also has cerebral palsy, had been using the pool for the past eight years.

David McFadden (42) attends the pool as a member of the Greenock branch of the National Association of Ankylosing Spondylitis, which is an arthritic condition. He said: 'If I did not have the pool it would be a struggle.' Staff at the hospital are hoping companies and members of the public will donate cash to the campaign. They are also planning activities such as an abseil, race night, sponsored swim, auction, raffle and quiz night.