Ref. 11561MALMESBURY's £3 million state-of-the-art indoor swimming pool will open on January 12.

The pool has taken more than a year, 2,000 tonnes of concrete, at least 50 tonnes of steel and 60,000 bricks to construct.

It will be one of only six pools in the UK to have a motorised floor which adjusts the depth of the pool in minutes, making it more accessible for toddlers and disabled people.

North Wiltshire District Council press officer Paul Langcaster said: "It looks good. The pool will be completed before the opening date but the staff will have to be made familiar with the facilities before it opens."

The four lane pool, which shares a reception with Activity Zone, measures 25 metres by 8.6 metres.

Plans have been in the pipeline for the last 20 years and were given the go ahead after a £1.2 million lottery grant from Sport England.

The district council put forward £865,000 towards the project with a further £15,000 contributed by town council.

A £300,000 donation offered to the project in the mid-90s was called into doubt when the anonymous benefactor's circumstances changed. The council said if it does not get the money it will make up the shortfall.

Kevin Chivers, assistant coach of the Malmesbury Marlins swimming club, said: "We are very pleased that its finally going to happen at last. We hope we will be able to continue to develop and get a few more children swimming."