SOME of Britain’s most successful Olympic swimmers were on hand at the weekend to help inspire a new generation.

Olympic bronze medallists Jo Jackson and Steve Parry were among seven top athletes who led sessions at the new Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre.

Around 100 youngsters packed the new pool on Saturday morning where they were treated to water polo, synchronised swimming and given the chance to race some of their Olympic heroes.

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Synchro swimmers Anastasija Bates and Zoe Reeve also took part in the event alongside 2012 waterpolo athletes Fiona McCann and Rosie Morris who were watched on by Olympic silver medallist Sharron Davies.

The event formed part of the celebrations by Blackburn with Darwen Council after the grand opening of the £13m centre in the shadow of Blackburn College.

Steve Parry, who’s Total Swimming programme helped to organise the event, said: “This is an amazing facility and it’s great that they have been able to combine the leisure elements with the pool itself. This pool will help encourage more and more people to give swimming a go and that’s a great thing.”