USERS of a Redditch pool could be exposing themselves to a "moderate health risk", claims consumer magazine Which? following an investigation.

It says the council-owned pool, in Hewell Road, has very high levels of disinfectant - but the council insists the public have nothing to worry about.

In February, the magazine's investigators took samples from 40 UK swimming baths including the pool in Batchley (above).

In a report on its findings, Which? said the pool, which caters for 20,000 visitors a month, had extremely high levels of "chloramines", a pool disinfectant which, under some conditions could form potentially harmful by-products in the water and air.

This, it said, could trigger attacks in asthmatics and also cause eye and nose irritations.

However, a Reddith Council spokesman reassured members of the public that they had nothing to worry about.

"We monitor water quality at Hewell Road manually every two hours and using a 24-hour computer-controlled system," he said.

"The council's records and records analysed by Worcester Scientific Services at the time of the Which? visit both returned satisfactory levels.

"Which? told us in early April that its three-part report showed acceptable pH levels for acidity and alkalinity.

"There were also two different chlorine tests, one of which was very good, the other showed the levels were too high.

"Taking all the reports into account, we were satisfied that the water quality at the pool was, and is, maintained to a safe standard."

The spokesman added: "We can reassure Hewell Road pool users that we will continue our high monitoring of water levels to ensure a safe pool for swimmers at all times."