Leader: Free swimming fun and it might save your life

The intention of Shropshire Council's initiative in offering free swimming at various centres during the countdown to the Olympic Games is to encourage people to get fit, active, and involved in one of the most accessible and enjoyable of sports.

That makes it an excellent opportunity in itself. There is another aspect which underlines the desirability of taking the council up on its offer.

Shropshire is an inland county but has a host of pools, rivers, canals, water-filled quarries and other expanses of open water which have a deadly lure and take a tragic toll.

As the temperature rises, so does the danger that children and young adults will throw caution to the wind and take a dip, carelessly disregarding the danger.

Being able to swim, and even being a strong swimmer, is not a safeguard in waters which can chill the bones even in high summer, and stay-away advice which is regularly issued should be heeded.

But youngsters are youngsters and are prone to ignoring warnings. The ability to swim is a life saver for those who stray too deep.

The free swimming will be available in the eight weeks running up to the London games.

It is a fine gesture in keeping with the spirit of the event and, if it works up some extra enthusiasm and interest for the likes of Rebecca Adlington and our other Olympic swimming hopes, that is all to the good as well.

It is not often that you get something for nothing these days, so this represents a golden opportunity to get fit and have some fun, while potentially learning or developing a skill which may one day save your life.