TWO MASKED frogmen joined ten pupils for a swim to celebrate the opening of a new pool at an Ipswich School.St Helen's Primary has had a small learner swimming pool in the basement for the past 12 years – a valuable asset bearing in mind that there are no playing fields at its Woodbridge Road site.

TWO MASKED frogmen joined ten pupils for a swim to celebrate the opening of a new pool at an Ipswich School.

St Helen's Primary has had a small learner swimming pool in the basement for the past 12 years – a valuable asset bearing in mind that there are no playing fields at its Woodbridge Road site.

Many youngsters have learnt to swim in it in the past, as well as pupils from neighbouring schools, who visit to use the facility.

But two years ago the fabric of the pool's liner deteriorated to such a degree that it could not be repaired.

Determined to prevent the school's great swimming tradition from coming to an end, the School Association decided to launch a campaign to raise cash to fund a new pool.

A string of discos, fairs, talent nights, quizzes and sponsored events were arranged, raising more than £10,000 towards the £20,000 total cost of the replacement.

Head teacher Phil Golding said: "It's tremendous that all of our children can swim throughout the year."

Ten Year 4 girls tried out the new pool at the launch.