Now that the school summer holidays have started, parents might reflect on their own youthful summers when they could enjoy a tropical paradise on their doorstep.

Boasting two water flumes, a wave machine and palm trees imported from Florida, Bolton’s Water Place opened in 1988.

Officially launched by Her Majesty the Queen on December 1 that year, the £5.8 million complex hoped to herald a new era of swimming in Bolton.

Families flocked to the baths in Great Moor Street and — as our photographs show — lots of fun was had by visitors young and old.

But The Water Place was plagued with problems and had to close for two weeks for repairs just eight months after opening. Less than three years later, it was revealed the building was losing thousands of pounds a year, costing Bolton residents £3 a head as three-quarters of people using it were from outside the borough.

In 1992, there was more bad news when fumes forced The Water Place to be evacuated and 23 swimmers were taken to hospital.

The Water Place finally closed in 2002 with debts of £750,000, leaving the town centre without any public swimming facilities until the opening of the £34million Bolton One in 2012.