A NEW state-of-the-art system for controlling safety and cleanliness of the water at the Dolphin Centre in Bromsgrove is to be installed early in the New Year.

It will be the first time that the sophisticated chlorination system, incorporating built-in security safeguards will have been used in a swimming pool anywhere in the country.

The details were revealed by Cllr Terri Matthews (Con, Furlongs) to councillors at Bromsgrove District Council's meeting.

The district council has agreed the manufacturers, Air Products, suppliers of chlorine gas and purification equipment can use the Dolphin Centre as a showpiece to other local authorities and leisure organisations.

The Dolphin Centre has been dogged by misfortune this year. Twice it was forced to close when chlorine gas escaped and again when fire damaged part of the building.

The council's head of leisure services Robbie Hazlehurst said the council began to look at updating the purification system after the first leak in May.

A call for an independent inquiry into the leaks by Labour leader Cllr Peter McDonald (Uffdown and Waseley) was rejected.