BUDDING figure skating champions have accused Swindon Council of putting their potential careers in jeopardy.

The council has changed the way that skating coaching is booked at the Link Centre in West Swindon.

But members of the Swindon Figure Skating Club say they are furious because it could mean promising skaters missing out on vital sessions.

Until now, skaters booked their lessons through the coach directly, paying him or her and arranging times.

But now the training must be arranged through the Link's front desk, with no guarantee of getting a certain coach at a particular time.

Coaching sessions have always been open to the public but the club's experienced skaters claim the change could jeopardise their partnership with their coach.

Bill Horan, 48, of Cheney Manor, is secretary of the Swindon Figure Skating Club, which has members aged from four to 60. He says that getting continuity with the right coach is vital for a skater to progress.

"The skaters aren't happy about this and I don't think the coaches are," he said. "You build up a relationship with the coach. He or she picks the music you will skate to and gets to know you.

"There is nothing wrong with the existing system. We have some good coaches and some good skaters and there is simply no need for these changes.

"To make things worse we have been told that the prices will go up to cover the extra administration."

Colleen Wilson, 66, a club member and retired nurse from Park South, says members are going to stop skating because of the move.

She said: "I was inspired by Olympic skater Sonia Heaney in the 1940s and 50s and started skating after that, but I'm also a member of a gym. A lot of the older members have been telling me they are going to join one instead.

"My grandchildren skate and take it very seriously, but this could alter everything."

Figure skating is similar to ice dance, which was made famous by Olympic gold medallists Torvill and Dean, but with more acrobatic manoeuvres such as spins and jumps.

Business consultant, Tony Cook, 48, from Stratton St Margaret, takes his 12-year-old daughter Julie skating.

He said: "Feelings are running quite high. It is being pushed through quickly without consultation with anyone who uses the rink.

"I would say the council acted without advice. We have skaters at national level here but how it will work in the future we don't know."

A spokesman for Swindon Council was unavailable for comment.