Pensioners flee Urmston pool after excrement found in water

Management at the pool removed the stool but then told concerned swimmers that as it was not diarrhoea they would not be cleaning the pool or closing it and did not offer a refund to those affected.

Raymond Lockett, 71 from Ashton-on-Mersey and friend Ken Mills, 71, from Flixton made the discovery whilst on their usual Monday afternoon over-40s swim. Raymond said: "We feel it should have been closed down and cleaned properly and at least offered a refund, especially after swimming costs have risen by 100 per cent recently - you expect a bit of cleanliness."

Ken said: "I was swimming along when I noticed it on the bottom of the pool and got hold of the attendants. It does turn you off from swimming there. Last time this happened the pool was closed and we feel this should have happened this time."

Ken's wife Joyce was due to go to her usual Monday afternoon aqua-aerobics but when told about the incident decided against it as did a number of other pool users.

A Trafford Community Leisure Trust spokesperson said: "There was an incident at Urmston Pool regarding solid faeces at around 1.40 in the afternoon. part of the stool in one area of the pool was removed by a member of the public with no consent or knowledge of the lifeguards.

"As soon as the lifeguards were alerted to the issue, the pool was emptied of customers and the remaining stool was removed by the lifeguards, following this a pool test was conducted and showed that the pool was well within the safe parameters. As such the pool did not need to be closed.

"The ISRM Industry guidance notes on such matters (note 329 Sept 2007) outline that; solid matter/stool can simply be scooped from the water as long as the pool is operating as it should by way of the disinfectant process. No further action is needed.

"If a loose stool/diarrhea is identified in the pool the process is different and involves closure, draining, backwashing re-disinfecting and so forth."