A DISABLED swimming club will splash out on a party to celebrate keeping the group afloat for 25 years.

The Jubilee Swimming Club for the Disabled in Stourport is having a dinner and dance night at the town's Royal British Legion on Saturday to thank its volunteers and members.

More than 120 people are expected to attend the event which will include a special anniversary awards ceremony.

The club was set up in the Queen's Silver Jubilee year after a group of Stourport charity fund-raisers realised there were no swimming facilities for disabled people.

But what started off with half a dozen members at the town's sports centre in 1977 has now grown 10 times, continuing to make members "feel at ease" to take part in water activities.

Founding member and club chairman for 15 years, John Collins, said: "One of the main functions of the club is to help disabled people learn how to swim and to be able to provide some kind of recreational activity, so they can have fun.

"If people want to swim seriously they can, or those who just want to have fun can join as well."

Mr Collins, of Windermere Way, Stourport, said members receive badges relating to distances they have swum, and the club also had competitive swimmers.

The club is a self-funding organisation which relies on volunteers and donations to run sessions and hire the town pool.

Although it faced financial problems, the group, with its committee of eight, found a way to continue helping the disabled by holding fund-raising events.

The 69-year-old retired sales representative added: "We struggled a bit over a few years just to keep going, but my main hope for the club is for it to keep on moving forward, and for more people to use the facilities and for them to get more badges.

"Being able to swim is important to everyone particularly the grouping we have - it gives them a sense of achievement."

He added: "We always have room for people and are always looking for helpers."

The club meets at Stourport Sports Centre, Harold Davies Drive, on Saturdays from 3.45pm until 5pm.

For more information ring 01299 823525.