LABOUR'S Neil Bibby made a visit to Gourock's famous outdoor pool to make a plea for financial support for swimming facilities.

The West Scotland MSP is calling on the Scottish Government to provide adequate support for public pools.

Mr Bibby said: “Swimming pools are vital local assets, and Gourock Outdoor Pool is also a national gem.

"I’m very grateful to Inverclyde Leisure for meeting with me to talk about their fantastic work, alongside Inverclyde Council, to provide free swimming to all local school children.

"But this is despite savage cuts to local council budgets over many years.

"The Scottish Government has starved councils of money in order to spend from the centre on its own pet projects.

"That’s cuts to vital local services – including swimming pools and swimming lessons for our kids.

"The UK Government has set up a Swimming Pool Support Fund for England, but the Scottish Government has not used the consequential funding they have received to set one up here in Scotland.

"They should do this without delay.”