A DISGUSTED mother says she was "sickened to the core" after finding cockroaches at a swimming pool yards from where her tot swims.

Rachel Ellis, 29, says one worker at Splashworld, Crook Log, Bexleyheath, scooped a dead insect in a cup and threw it out of a back door.

Mrs Ellis, of Barrington Road, Bexleyheath, says she will not take her two-year-old daughter Sophie to the pool again unless the problem is sorted out.

The part-time secretary said: "I saw the first dead one last month where they keep the swimming floats. It was black and about an inch-and-a-half long. I was sickened to the core.

"Last week I saw two in the drained training pool, one dead and one alive and kicking. It's disgusting and not fit for my daughter."

She added: "You expect a basic standard of hygiene and having these things running all over is not it.

"It's one thing swimming with dolphins but swimming with cockroaches is something I can do without."

News Shopper revealed a similar problem at the pool in 2001 after swimmers complained about the pests.

The centre is set to close in the summer of 2005 when the new Crook Log Leisure Centre, being built opposite, is due to open.

Boxwood Leisure runs the centre for Bexley Council.

Its project manager, Jeremy Lightfoot, said there is no risk to swimmers.

He said: "The presence of cockroaches within a building of this age is not uncommon. A monthly treatment has been in operation since we took over last September.

"This regime ensures they don't become established and don't present a health risk. It's in accordance with requirements of the council's environmental health department and industry good practice.

"We apologise for the concern this may have caused to our customer, but would like to reassure all users their safety is our number one concern."