FUNDRAISING efforts by a fast-growing swimming club have been given an early Christmas present – in the form of two grants.

Hambleton District Council has given £1,500 and the Lance Corporal Ben Hyde Memorial Trust a further £500 towards the £2,500-plus cost of turbulence-cutting lane ropes and storage facilities for Northallerton Amateur Swimming Club.

The swimmers, their families and club volunteers have also raised additional funds for the new equipment with bag-packs at Tesco and Morrisons in the town – funds that were then matched by Barclays Bank.

The new ropes replace equipment that is almost 20 years old.

They prevent waves and turbulence spreading from swimmers in adjacent lanes at Hambleton Leisure Centre in Northallerton, enhancing the club’s thrice-weekly training sessions, as well as competitions held at the pool.

Club chairman Sam Davison said: “We are really grateful for the support we have received – the new ropes have made a real difference already.

“We have had a remarkable year of growth in 2013, with membership now exceeding 100 and some fantastic young swimmers climbing the ranks, putting us in a strong position to challenge much larger clubs.

“I am very grateful for all of the local support we receive and this year we have been able to send our best swimmers to lots of external competitions across the region and have seen many club and personal best records tumble.”

The Ben Hyde trust was founded in 2005 in memory of a young military policeman who was one of six Red Caps killed in Iraq two years earlier.

Ben’s mother, Sandra Hyde, said: “Ben loved all sport, he was a strong swimmer and we are sure he would be proud to know that we were able to give this support in his name.”