THE number of youngsters using Liverpool pools has fallen by nearly half since free swimming was scrapped as part of council cuts.

Figures show 19,718 fewer children aged between nine and 17 attended the pools in September and October than in July and August.

While some of the fall was due to children going back to school, the number this year was down 46% compared to the same months in 2009, when free swims were still available.

The council said it had no choice but to cut free swimming when the coalition government announced the end of funding for the popular scheme.

But the Lib-Dem opposition, who introduced it in Liverpool before Labour introduced it nationally, said the council should find the £300,000 required from elsewhere.

The number of youngsters continuing to use the pools after the summer holidays fell by 70%, from 27,839 in July and August to 8,121 in September and October.

In the same period the year before, the drop-off on going back to school was around 57%.