FREE swimming for children who are under the age of 16 will not be rolled out across parts of Worcestershire for the time being.

Wychavon District Council – which has already taken up the Government’s offer to provide free swimming for people above the age of 60 – said that it had yet to be convinced about providing the scheme for youngsters.

At a meeting of the executive board Councillor Judy Pearce, member for planning, housing and health, said: “The Government is offering money for two years for free swimming for the under-16s and over-60s.

“We have taken the decision to provide swimming for the over-60s as long as the Government grant lasts.

“I think we have made that quite clear to residents that is the case.

“We cannot guarantee it after Government involvement finishes but we are very pleased to be able to roll it out to the over-60s.

“As far as the younger age group, we feel that the Government position on this might not yet be fixed so that we are unable to proceed at the moment with under-16s funding.”

Leader Paul Middlebrough said the scheme might not be something that would prove to be popular anyway.

“Three years ago we offered half-price swimming for under-16s and when it was compared with previous years there was a lower take up,” he said.

Councillor Anna Mackison said she was worried the council tax payer would end up paying for the Government-led initiative at the end of the two-year period, or the council would have to stop providing it. “That really bugs me,” she said. “If the Government is serious about it they should fund it, if we are really serious about it we should fund it.”

Coun Middlebrough said: “We are certainly not closing the door on it. I think the Government has got more money and if they have, they have got an obligation to put it out to the authorities who have have shown an interest.”

It was decided the council would wait to see whether the situation changes.

Both Worcester city and Malvern Hills district councils have agreed to provide free swimming for over-60s from April, while officers are still discussing whether to provide for the under-16s.