Darlington's Dolphin Centre main pool will re-open later this month after being closed for over a year following a £3.9 million investment into renovation works at the facility.

The news of the re-opening was confirmed on social media by the centre, which has set a new opening date of January 26. 

New details of booking times for lanes, family swimming and diving boards have also been posted online by the council and are accessible to customers.

A statement by the centre read: "The Dolphin Centre is delighted to announce that the main pool will reopen on Friday, January 26 2024 at 6.30am.

"As previously communicated, this will continue to require alternative access arrangements due to the toddler pool area and walkway still undergoing works.

"This will mean the slides and showers in the toddler pool area will continue to be out of use during this period. The toddler pool and new features will be available for customers to enjoy Spring 2024."

The centre, which has been running for 40 years, was originally supposed to be closed for four months from December 2022 but the date set for works to end was continually pushed back by the council.

Additional work on top of the "major structural work" meant that a special Cabinet meeting of Darlington Borough Council moved the date to January 2024.