Olympic swimmer Ross Murdoch passed the baton on to the swimming stars of the future as he helped to officially open Helensburgh Leisure Centre last week.

In the town where the former world and European champion competed in his first gala, Ross joined Helensburgh Amateur Swim Team to try out the new pool.

The swimmer was joined at the opening by Provost of Argyll and Bute Council Maurice Corry and Councillor Gary Mulvaney, policy lead for finance and commercial services.

The £22million leisure centre and swimming pool is part of the council’s ongoing regeneration plan to transform Helensburgh’s waterfront.

The centre features a 25-metre main swimming pool and a training pool, as well as a luxury health suite with steam room and sauna, a café, a shop, fitness studios, and a gym with panoramic views of the Clyde.

It is fully accessible and includes a changes places facility, a floating moveable floor in the training pool, and poolside pods allowing those with mobility issues to access the pool independently.

Cllr Mulvaney said: “It’s an incredibly proud moment to officially open this new fantastic community asset in Helensburgh.

“Delivering this legacy build has been a huge achievement despite the challenges of building in the midst of a global pandemic.

“The project has provided vital employment to contractors, and essential work experience for a range of trainee and graduate roles including apprentice electricians and plumbers to graduate civil engineers.

“We are delighted to see so many people making use of the new facilities and as we continue to transform the waterfront into an attractive and vibrant area, we look forward to creating opportunities for future generations to enjoy.”

Argyll and Bute Council appointed contractors Heron Bros Ltd to start work on the site in August 2020.

The £22.3million invested in the project includes £5million which was awarded by the UK Government Libor Fund, administered by the Royal Navy, and £100,000 from sportscotland.

In recognition of the Royal Navy, the gym in the leisure centre has been named the Neptune Suite.

Captain Nick Gibbons, captain of HMS Neptune, said: “This is a fantastic addition to the local amenities and one that I am sure will be enjoyed by Base personnel and their families who live and work in the area.

“I am also delighted that the naming of the Neptune Suite within this impressive facility reflects the close relationship between the Naval Base and the community, a supportive relationship that continues to ensure our future plans are aligned and mutually beneficial.”

Stewart Harris, chief executive of sportscotland, said: ““In these challenging times, it is fantastic to see the continued commitment of Argyll and Bute Council and LiveArgyll to providing more and better opportunities for people to take part in sport and physical activity.

“This new swimming pool will be a huge asset to the local community of Helensburgh and beyond, particularly due to the care taken to ensure that it will be accessible and inclusive. That’s why we were delighted to provide £100,000 investment from our Sports Facilities Fund to support this important project.”