A swimming pool, which has battled to stay open despite low funding and vandalism, has won a national award against all odds.

Central Park Swimming Pool, Gooshays Drive, Harold Hill, won the Gold Pool Award 1999 in recognition of its commitment to safety, good working practice and fundraising.

The accolade was shared with Hornchurch Sportscentre, Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch.

Both pools are run by Havering Council's leisure department which has run out of money for repairs.

Central Park pool staff believe the award reflects excellent relations with swimmers, who have continued to use the facility despite an urgent need for repair work.

Last week, local residents complained of a "cold, miserable and depressing" pool, and last year vandals caused substantial damage.

Swimmers must wait at least three years for a replacement pool, as although the council is "very optimistic" its lottery bid for a £6million replacement pool will be accepted, building work would take considerable time.

Central Park pool staff, however, have carried on regardless.

Pool manager Chris Spencer said: "We keep people coming despite the physical state of the pool being poor.

"That's because customers feel they get a personal service here. Because it's such a small pool everyone's got time to make them feel welcome.

"Now the award has recognised that approach, as well as our professionalism and customer care, which have all definitely improved over the past few years."

The award comes with a £1,000 cheque, half of which will be used to provide items such as new safety or play equipment for the pools.

The other £500 was given to provide an incubator for the baby care unit at Harold Wood Hospital, Gubbins Lane, Harold Wood.

The cheque was presented by the mayor of Havering, Cllr Maisie Whitelock at Hornchurch Sportscentre on Sunday.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.