THE scheduled reopening of the swimming pool at Queens Park Health and Fitness has been slightly delayed - with the facility now expected to be back in use by February 5.

The council had announced the pool at the Boundary Road premises was to open again on Monday, January 22.

It had been closed since last October for essential remedial work after loose tiles had been discovered at the bottom.

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

Work was due to begin last week to gradually start filling, treating, and heating the 25-metre, five lane pool before its reopening.

However, a meeting of the Environment, Regeneration, Housing, Culture and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Panel heard that the opening has been put back by up to two weeks.

Cabinet member for libraries and leisure Cllr Sue Murphy said: "They had staff re-tiling the pool and it has been completed, but just as it was somebody noticed there were a few tiles that hadn't been grouted properly.

"We've been assured that it will be opened by Monday, February 5, if not sooner."

A St Helens Council statement last week 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 has apologised for any inconvenience caused during the closure.