Inflatables, rafts, music and games will all be going on in the pool when The Big Splash returns to Medway this weekend.

Swimming pools at Medway Park in Gillingham, Hoo pool, Strood Leisure Centre and Splashes at Rainham will stage events over the course of Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 18.

Sponsors Southern Water’s Learn to Swim ambassador, Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew, launched the aquatic event with pupils from Hempstead School in October last year, when registration opened for the event.

Now the big weekend is finally here, and family galas with races and medals will be held at all venues at varying times.

All weekend activities are free and tickets to secure your place can be collected from reception in advance but the pools will also operate a queue-and-book-in system on the day.

Meanwhile, the Medway Big Swim Challenge is the mass participation activity that all are invited to get behind. It will run at all Medway’s pools, with the public coming together to amass lengths of the pools throughout the weekend, aiming to beat last years 5,828 lengths (91 miles).

Medway’s leisure pools will also offer tasters, workouts and activities throughout, including aqua zorbs, diving, water polo, aqua zumba, synchronised swimming, lifesaving and more.

For full details and to register, visit www.medway.gov.uk