A QUALIFIED swimming instructor says she has been barred from her local swimming pool for teaching youngsters to swim.

Jackie Powell claims she was told the police would be called if she tried to return to Lower Wick Swimming Pool because the manager believed she was being paid to teach the youngsters.

Mrs Powell said she regularly went swimming three or four times a week at the pool and friends and family asked her to help their children swim.

She began helping the children, aged five to nine, 18 months ago and insists she has never been paid for her help. Mrs Powell began to spend time with one child after her swim.

"Almost every time there was a parent with them," said Mrs Powell, of Rowley Hill Street, St John's.

Mrs Powell claimed that, about eight months ago, she was accused by the pool's manager, Mr Massey, of being paid to teach the children to swim.

"I told them I wasn't getting paid but I didn't know how I could prove it to them," said Mrs Powell, aged 40.

"So all the parents wrote in saying they weren't paying."

After this, Mrs Powell maintained nothing more was said by the management, and she continued as usual.

Then, on Monday, October 7, Mrs Powell claims she was stopped as she was paying for a session and was again accused of being paid to teach youngsters.

"Mr Massey said he'd overheard someone saying I was being paid for lessons," Mrs Powell claimed.

"He said I would be removed by the police if I tried to go back there.

"I haven't been back there since and I wouldn't go back on principle."

If Mrs Powell were to be paid to teach swimming she would have to pay the pool insurance money.

Her husband, Nick, said some of the children she had helped had been receiving lessons at the pool, but claimed their parents were concerned at their lack of progress.

He wrote to Raymond Lewis, chairman of Worcester Citizens' Swimming Bath Association, asking to discuss the matter.

Mr Powell received a reply from Mr Lewis last Tuesday upholding Mr Massey's action, saying he had "no interest in discussing the matter further".

Mr Massey refused to comment or give the Evening News his first name.