Hemel Hempstead's outdoor pool sells out opening weekend as heatwave helps drive more than 3,300 visitors in first week

Hemel Hempstead Leisure Centre's popular outdoor pool enjoyed a brilliant start to its summer season, with public swimming sessions selling out across the opening bank holiday weekend and more than 3,300 visitors recorded in the first week alone.

The facility, managed by Everyone Active on behalf of Dacorum Borough Council, opened its outdoor pool for the summer season on Saturday 23 May - the start of the bank holiday half-term weekend - with public swimming sessions fully booked across the opening weekend as the area basked in temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius.

Since the weekend, the pool has welcomed 3,303 visitors across the half term week.

With exceptional weather forecast in advance, sessions filled up rapidly ahead of the opening weekend.

The facility features a 25-metre heated outdoor pool alongside a toddler splashing pool with fountains, making it a popular destination for families across Dacorum.

The outdoor pool is also uniquely available for cold water swimming throughout the winter months, offering cold water dips, social swimming and lane swimming for over-16s when the summer season is not in operation.

David Tenny, general manager at Hemel Hempstead Leisure Centre, said: "What a fantastic start to the summer season. To be fully booked across our opening weekend was brilliant, and the atmosphere around the pool was fantastic throughout. Our team worked incredibly hard to make sure every visitor had a great experience in what were really exceptional conditions.

"The outdoor pool is a fantastic facility and one we're really proud of. There's nothing quite like it on a hot summer's day, and it was wonderful to see so many families and swimmers making the most of it. There is still plenty of the summer season ahead, so if you haven't had the chance to visit yet, now is the perfect time to book."

Sessions can be booked at www.everyoneactive.com/centre/hemel-hempstead-leisure-centre/