Youngsters who had summer holiday time on their hands were on their way to Ulverston Leisure Centre in August 1996 to enjoy a whole host of activities.

The fun was all part of the summer playscheme, which was being held right through the school break.

There were all kinds of sports for the youngsters to try out, including kwik cricket.

Morning sessions were for six to seven-year-olds and afternoons were for children aged eight to 14.

In 1997 budding young scuba divers donned flippers and snorkels to spend part of their summer holidays in Ulverston getting a fish-eye’s view of life under water.

Under the headline ‘Taking a dive in the summer hols’, The Mail reported in July that a dozen youngsters spent a week on a snorkelling course at Ulverston swimming pool under the watchful eye of instructor Cass Gleaves, from Askam.

It was the third course he had run since they were introduced at the Ulverston pool earlier that summer.

Mr Gleaves, secretary of the Furness Sub Aqua Club, also took courses in Barrow.

Mr Gleaves said: “We’ve had a full class and we’ve even got a waiting list for the next course.

“They have been learning everything about snorkelling, including equipment, what to look for when buying, how to snorkel on the surface, snorkel diving and swimming underwater.

"To complete the week's course I brought along a couple of diving cylinders and the youngsters got very excited.

"Once they had the gear fitted they learned how to breathe under water and then did two lengths of the pool."

Amy Lord, 12, from Eden Mount, Croftlands, said: "It's been really great. I have had a go snorkelling before but wanted to know how to do it properly."

Her friend Fiona Nevinson, 12, from Rusland Crescent, said: "I came on the course for fun and I've enjoyed it a lot."