A 12-year-old boy is not allowed in a Worcester swimming pool

by himself because staff consider him a health and safety risk after he got into fights.

Shane Johnson is barred from Worcester Swimming Pool in Sansome Walk unless accompanied in the water by one of his parents.

His dad Keith is furious with the ban and claims the staff should do more to accommodate Shane, who suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which means he often retaliates and has to take a medication called Ritalin to calm him down.

Last Monday, Mr Johnson, of Northfield Street, Arboretum, accompanied his son to the baths but was told he actually had to get into the pool with Shane, not just supervise him from the side.

"They wouldn't let him in even though we went to watch him. They said we had to get in the water, but we don't want to get in the water," said Mr Johnson.

"When he takes his medication and is with us he is much calmer."

Mr Johnson said Shane, who attends Riverside Special School in Worcester, was upset when turned away.

"It's not his fault he has this condition and nobody there seems to understand that. Shane would go swimming every day if he had the chance," he said.

Shane's mum Elizabeth said her son had been bullied and had fought back.

She said: "He has had a couple of fights because other children call him fatty. He has argued back with the lifeguards but it is because of his ADHD."

Mrs Johnson said staff should have a better understanding of children with the disorder.

Sarah Hughes, business manager for Leisure Connection, which runs Worcester Swimming Pool, said: "As a commitment to all our customers and staff, it is Leisure Connection's policy to ensure their safety and wellbeing at our centres.

"The young boy in question has repeatedly given the site cause for instigating a ban whereby he cannot return to the pool as he is jeopardising the health and safety of others.

"However, we have agreed the boy could return but only if supervised by a parent. His behaviour would then be monitored and the ban may be lifted once staff were satisfied by his conduct. Unfortunately, the boy did not return to the centre with a parent hence the decision to turn him away."