A swim training school founded by a trio of Olympians is to open its first Kent site.

Swim! has confirmed it will be sharing the former Toys R Us unit at Horsted Retail Park, near Chatham, with its partner company JD Gyms.

Champion swimmers Becky Adlington, Steve Parry and Adrian Turner are behind the Lancashire-based group which specialises in teaching children between the ages of newborn and 11 how to swim and gain confidence in the water.

Becky said: “We are taking over the unit and building our state-of-the-art centre inside. Everything is bespoke making it the perfect environment for families.

“It is a fantastic opportunity to have a dual site and bring more leisure facilities to the area.

“Chatham is a great location. Unfortunately, with not a huge amount of swimming pools in the area, we want to provide a life-saving skill to the community. Horsted Retail Park provides quick access for local families and surrounding areas too.”

The swim school is hoping to open at the end of the year making it the group’s first in the south of the country.

It currently runs 11 other centres across the Midlands, north of England and Scotland which have family-friendly changing areas, a heated pool, an air-conditioned viewing gallery and members-only access.

Parent company JD Sports purchased a 60% stake in the firm last June in a deal thought to be worth up to £15 million.

The Bury-headquartered trainer and sports fashion retailer has, via existing subsidiary JD Sports Gyms, acquired the shareholding in Total Swimming Group.

It was founded to make swimming more accessible and includes Swim!, the first multi-site operator of dedicated children's learn-to-swim family-friendly centres in the UK.

The acquisition provides a broadening of the group's leisure interests, which now includes gyms and pools.

Just two weeks ago, it was announced that JD’s plans to take over the large empty unit were back on track after it pulled out earlier this year.

The low-cost fitness chain now hopes to be open by the end of the year and ahead of the launch is offering a raft of membership deals.

Under the mantra Fitness Just Got Serious, gym users are being invited to register online for just £5 with no contract or joining fee.

Aldi, Home Bargains, Pets At Home and a KFC drive-thru are all established on the retail park near Rochester Airport.