Olympic swimming champion Duncan Goodhew is encouraging people to make a splash at a family fun weekend.

The Medway Big Splash will bring more than 1,000 swimmers to Medway Park and Strood Leisure Centre for two days of free fun activities, workouts and swimming lessons.

Duncan said: "It is always great to accept a challenge, particularly when it’s for a local good cause. And swimming is the best form of exercise, so why not?"

Duncan added: “I think it’s great that Medway has come together in the way it has done for these community sporting events. I came along to the Medway Mile once and people were having a good time and helping charities.”

At Medway Park, Gillingham, participants can look forward to swimming and diving lessons starting at 10am, followed by a family fun splash session with inflatables and pool games at 11am, and water polo at noon.

There are more fun and fitness sessions before a display by the Medway Mermaids Synchronised Display Team at 3pm. Disability sessions take place at 4pm before the family splash pool party from 6.30pm to 8pm.

Diving lessons, synchronised swimming sessions and Deep Water Aqua Fit lessons will be held in the diving pool.

Strood Leisure Centre will offer a similar mix, with lessons starting at 10am followed by a family fun splash session at noon, before Zumba at 1pm and further fitness sessions afterwards. Snorkelling and lifeguard sessions will also be on offer before an afternoon of family splash pool parties.

An extra pool party will be held on Sunday from 3.30pm to 5.30pm at Medway Park.

The main event on Sunday is the Big Swim Challenge, when swimmers will take to the water and swim anything from a length to a mile, with the aim of seeing how far Medway can swim in one day.

People will be taking part as teams or individually, for charity or just for fun. Every participant will receive a free souvenir T-shirt and certificate.

On the same day, a family sports day will be running from 11am to 3pm at both sports centres with no pre-booking required.

During the weekend, the Hundred of Hoo Pool and Splashes in Rainham will remain open as usual.

Tickets are still available for the 5.30pm to 7pm party at Strood on Saturday and for the 3.30pm to 5pm party on Sunday at Medway Park.

• For full timetables, booking and registration information for all elements of the Big Splash weekend visit www.medway.gov.uk/bigsplash