THE first ever image of Worcester's new £10 million swimming pool can today be revealed - as work on the design steps up apace.

Your Worcester News can exclusively reveal the ever first artist's impression of the grand facility, set to open in Perdiswell in 2016.

The eight-lane pool, expected to cost a total of £10.4 million, was backed by Worcester City Council at the end of September.

Last night the authority revealed it was making big strides in drawing up the funding package for it, and is now aiming to appoint a construction firm to build it by July next year.

Bosses are currently seeking bids from developers, and aim to size up the best one before finalising on a contract.

This initial image, aimed at whetting the appetite, will lead to more final designs being published in around June.

It also aims to progress work in finding an operator to take it on, a project which is progressing constantly.

Councillor David Wilkinson, cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, said: "It’s very exciting to see this first design for the pool’s entrance.

"It shows that we’re making good progress on our aim of giving Worcester the pool it deserves.

"I’m sure people across the city will be as excited as I will be to see the final designs when they are ready in a few months.

"The new pool will appeal to our city’s learners, families and dedicated swimmers alike and will also host national and regional competitions, turning Worcester into a top swimming destination."

It will be created by extending and revamping the existing Perdiswell Leisure Centre, at which point Sansome Walk pool will be demolished and sold for housing.

For the funding, the council will rely on a mixture of a loan, cash from the sale of both Sansome Walk and its Orchard House HQ, which the University of Worcester has bought in a £3.1 million deal, and a possible Sport England grant.

But the costs have proved controversial - it was approved in September by 18 votes to 16 with Labour, Lib Dem and Green councillors refusing to back it.

At the time the Conservative leadership argued that an eight-lane pool will bring major competitions to Worcester for the first time ever, prove more popular, boost people's health more and will put the city on the swimming map.