FREE swimming for under-16s in Inverclyde is set to be dramatically reduced under new plans to cut costs.

Council chiefs want to restrict it to a two hour slot on Saturday and Sunday mornings in a bid to save around £100,000 a year.

Free swimming for youngsters was first introduced 16 years ago but it has come under pressure in recent years because of big council budget cuts.

Now the local authority is proposing to instead subsidise the cost of a swim for kids, lowering the admission price by £2 and reducing it further during school holidays by £1.

They also plan to pay leisure bosses a fee per-swim, rather than provide a block grant.

Details are outlined in a report prepared for councillors by education and communities director Ruth Binks, which points out that usage of the free scheme has been on the wane.

It says: 'Free swimming has been available in Inverclyde since 2005.

"Despite this initiative the number of free swims accessed has declined over the years."

Up until now the council has paid Inverclyde Leisure £180,000 a year to continue free swimming for under-16s.

It was introduced to encourage youngsters towards healthy lifestyles but the number of visits made to local pools has plunged by 18,000 a year since 2015-16.

As part of the proposal the council would subsidise the cost of under-16 swimming, bringing it down to £2.60, and £1.60 during school holidays.

The total cost to the council would be £107,000, with the shortfall made up with money redirected from its grants for voluntary groups pot.

This new budget would replace the £180k free swimming block grant currently paid to operators Inverclyde Leisure.

If councillors approve the proposal then from April onwards the leisure trust would be paid per-swim.

There are two alternative options on the table, including continuing under-16 free swimming in the holidays, as well as weekend mornings.

But officers say the money for this would have to be found from cuts elsewhere.

The report notes there has been support for making savings from free swimming for under-16s during public consultations held in the past.

Councillors will decide on the matter at a meeting today.