CHORLEY Borough Council has taken the plunge by sponsoring 11young people at swimming camps at the new Manchester Aquatics Centre -- the water-based venue for the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

The youngsters who are attending the centre -- opened by the Queen -- are part of the Chorley squad which competed in the Lancashire Youth Games and National Millennium Youth Games in Southampton.

Manchester Aquatics Centre has teamed up with Arena Swimwear, the city council and Serco to host a swimming and water polo camp which is aimed at youngsters aged 13 and over.

Councillor Steve Holgate, the borough council's executive member for sport, arts and community development, said the training week, this week, was being led by nationally recognised coaches, adding: "This is a real opportunity for our youngsters to pick up some first-class tuition.

"The Manchester Aquatics Centre is Britain's only double-deck 50-metre pool complex and designed, as it has been, to cater for the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, it is the latest word as far as sporting facilities of its kind are concerned.

"Hopefully the lesson that our young people will learn during the week will put them on the road to future success in the sport.

"It is also the chance to have some wonderful fun in the process."

Chorley's sports development officer Joanne Moss added: "The swimmers who are going along all acquitted themselves well in the recent Youth Games.

"This is a golden opportunity to further improve their skills and experience the fantastic swimming facilities the region now has.