One of Preston’s leisure centres has put in a new hoist for disabled swimmers after being criticised on a regional news programme.

ITV Granada highlighted in February how the hoist at West View Leisure Centre was out of action.

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Prism Medical has stepped in to offer a replacement hoist free of charge to Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL).

The social enterprise, which took on operating the city council’s leisure centres in May 2017, invited Granada Reports back to see the new hoist as well as Preston MP Sir Mark Hendrick.

West View now has a two-track hoist and a pool-side hoist that can lower any customer into the main pool.

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West View centre manager Gareth Hughes said: “We have several groups and individuals who use the accessible changing rooms at West View Leisure Centre.

“I am delighted that Prism Medical has donated a new Hoist in the upstairs rooms so that every customer in Preston can continue to access our facilities.”

Disability Equality North West chief executive Melanie Close said: “We are delighted to hear that West View has a new hoist to help those pool users that need support to access the pool.

“Disabled people were very disappointed when the previous pool hoist broke and, despite it being a legal requirement to make the pool accessible, the hoist wasn’t fixed.

“The new hoist is even better than the previous model so improves the facilities significantly for disabled people, safe access to the pool is an essential for some swimmers – who need to have confidence in equipment that they rely on to access the same experience as other pool users.

“We would now encourage disabled people to use the centre and feedback to centre staff on their experience.”