DISABLED swimmers have been left high and dry after Halton College was forced to pull the plug on free therapeutic lessons.

Scores of people who take part in the lessons were sent letters by the college telling them Government subsidies for the lessons have been withdrawn because of a 'change in priorities'.

It said the priority was now to fund 16- to 18-year-olds in education and training.

The Weekly News has been contacted by swimmers who are up in arms at the prospect of paying £45 for 15 sessions which were previously free. Many will not be able to meet the cost.

They say there will be knock-on effects which go beyond the loss of important physical exercise and claim their social lives will be affected.

They also say Chesnut Lodge School, where the lessons are held, will lose cash from the leasing of its pool to the college.

One disabled swimmer, who asked not to be identified, said: 'The sessions are very therapeutic and help my arthritis. In my group, just three people are able to pay and there are scores of people taking part in these lessons.

'It's not just the physical side of things, but the social aspects as well.

'We are angry and frustrated because the Government is telling older people and the disabled to get exercise.

'I have been elated with my progress in swimming over the past 18 months - and now this.'

Ray Dowd, acting principal at Halton College, said: 'I am sorry that this group of people feel this way about these changes.

'The Government has declared that those classes that have increasingly been classified as 'leisure' cannot be subsidised to the same degree. The reason for this is a change in funding priorities.

'The Learning and Skills Council provides funding for adult community learning. On January 21, chief executive Mark Haysom said: 'We will focus our money and efforts on young people, adults without five GCSE equivalents and those currently out of work. This means our priorities are 16- to 18-year-olds, apprentices, anyone without a Level 2 qualification.'

'For Halton College, this means courses that have previously been heavily subsided, such as swimming classes, can no longer be supported to the same degree.'