THE number of people learning to swim through council-run programmes in West Dunbartonshire has dropped by nearly five per cent, according to a new report.

Although the total for the last financial year (2016/17) states 86,894 people took part in learn-to-swim schemes locally, that number is down from the previous year’s (2015/16) five-year high of 91,152 – a 4.7 per cent reduction.

However, the drop is explained in a council report due to go before members of the infrastructure, regeneration and economic development committee, which meets in Dumbarton tomorrow (Wednesday).

Factors contributing to the decline outlined in the report include a “gap in provision” caused by the delay in opening the new Clydebank Leisure Centre.

The report goes on to say demand remains “high” and that participation rates in 2017/18 are expected to increase significantly.