It is the news families have been waiting for - the leisure pool at the refurbished Stour Centre is to finally reopen.

Despite the main pool reopening in July following a £7.5million revamp of the Ashford leisure centre, the learner and leisure pools remained shut while work went on to fix flaws in the tiling.

Now operator Freedom Leisure has confirmed it hopes to finally make all the swimming facilities open to the public before the end of the year.

No exact date has been set - but it is currently expected to happen in early November.

Ivan Horsfall Turner, managing director at Freedom Leisure, said: "We are so pleased to be reopening the leisure pool and learner pool.

"We know that these swimming facilities in Ashford have been missed by people wanting to spend precious leisure time with the family or learning to swim and we look forward to welcoming everyone very soon."

The refurbishment of the pool has been an extensive programme of works over a period of many months, including the complete replacement of all the wall tiles in the leisure pool and the relining of the learner pool, as well as improvements to the lighting.

"It will provide active recreation for everyone..."

Cllr Matthew Forest, Ashford Borough Council portfolio holder for leisure, said: "We are very excited to announce the impending re-opening of the leisure pool which will greatly enhance the leisure offer at this fabulous newly refurbished facility and it will provide active recreation for everyone in order to support healthy lifestyles."

The newly refurbished centre, with brand new facilities including gym, multi-level soft-play and 'clip and climb', reopened to the public on June 1.

Read more: All the latest news from Ashford