Free swimming lessons end in Newtownabbey

Due to government cuts, pupils who had enjoyed the free swimming lessons in previous years were going to miss out on the programme.

Some of the schools which were set to miss out included Ballyclare, Doagh and Greenisland Primary Schools.

Future cuts were on the way, which may have reduced the distance even more from the five-mile threshold to just two miles.

Councillors called it unfair, and said that it discriminated against children from rural areas. The proposed cuts were due to save the North Eastern Education and Library Board £1,600.