From 1 April 2009 Derbyshire residents aged 60 and over and 16 and under will be able to swim for free during public swimming sessions at local authority pools.

The move is part of the Government's two-year Free Swimming Initiative, part of the plan to ensure a lasting sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

All Derbyshire residents aged 60 and over and 16 and under are eligible, but must apply for a free Swim 4 Life card first by picking up an application form from their local pool. Proof of age will be required. Cardholders can then swim for free at any participating pool within Derbyshire and Derby from 1 April.

The scheme will run initially for two years.

• For people aged 60 and over now, free swimming will finish on 31 March 2011.
• For those who are 16 and under now, eligibility will end on their seventeenth birthday or 31 March 2011, whichever comes first.

More details about the Free Swimming Initiative in your area are available on local authority websites along with application forms which can be downloaded.

The following local authorities in Derbyshire are involved in the Free Swimming Initiative:

• Bolsover District Council
• Chesterfield Borough Council
• North East Derbyshire District Council
• Amber Valley Borough Council
• Derby City Council
• Derbyshire Dales District Council
• Erewash Borough Council
• High Peak Borough Council
• South Derbyshire District Council

For a list of participating pools read on

The swimming scheme is jointly funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Department of Health, Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Communities and Local Government.