THE swimming pool at Queens Park Health and Fitness which has been closed for essential repairs is to reopen this month.

The pool will open again on Monday, January 22 after it was closed in last October for essential remedial work after loose tiles had been discovered at the bottom.

Work will begin later this week to gradually start filling, treating, and heating the 25-metre, five lane pool before its reopening.

The cause of the loose tiles was established as a result of moisture getting underneath them.

Swimming lessons will recommence in February.

A St Helens Council statement said: "Given the size of the swimming pool and the complex nature of the damage, repair work was always likely to be a long process and it was important that the source of the problem was correctly identified prior to work taking place to prevent any future occurrence."

The swimming pool opened in 2010 as part of the Queens Park Health & Fitness complex and rare research undertaken into the cause of the problem has found similar problems have been experienced at other pools in recent years.

The council added that it apologies for any inconvenience caused during the pool’s closure.