A Selby swimming club locked in a battle with the council over training times has received a cash boost from the National Lottery.

Members of Selby Tiger Sharks Swimming Club told the Evening Press yesterday that they would oppose moves by Selby District Council's leisure services department to slash their training timetable and increase the proportion of early-morning sessions.

Today they announced that they had received £3,573 grant from Sport England Active Sports - thanks to a joint bid put together by the council's sports development officer, Rebecca Walters, and Selby Tiger Sharks' secretary, Iain Moore.

Martin Smith, vice-chairman of the club, said: "This grant is recognition from Sport England of the value of the club and the fact that we are ambitious and treating the sport in a professional manner.

"It is also recognition from part of the district council that what we do is valued as worthwhile because they helped us to achieve this grant.

"It suggests that one part of the council is not necessarily working towards the same goals as the other."

The money will be used to provide systematic training for the club's professional coaches and voluntary committee as well as to buy equipment for land-training for its swimmers.

The club is largely run by volunteers, but officials say they are keen to increase the professionalism of its operations both in and outside the swimming pool.

Money has also been allocated for a planned festival of swimming to be run in conjunction with Abbey Leisure Centre.

Mr Martin said: "The leisure centre approached us about the idea and we are hoping the festival will boost our membership by highlighting the positives of competitive swimming."

The council's leisure services department has given the club until today to accept a revised training timetable which is aimed at boosting public swimming access at Abbey Leisure Centre in line with Audit Commission recommendations.

But club members say they will continue to fight the proposals which they say are "flawed" and will be to the detriment of competitive swimming in Selby district.

Updated: 12:23 Tuesday, July 01, 2003