A father who spent eight years negotiating to open a new swimming pool finally has finally achieved his dream.

Jonathan Rolfe, 35, has built a new £1million pool at the back of Frith Manor Primary School in Lullington Garth, Woodside Park.

Saturday’s opening was attended by Theresa Villiers MP and radio presenter Roberto from Heart FM.

Mr Rolfe decided to build the pool to follow in the footsteps of his parents, Ronald and Pamela Rolfe, who set up Oakleigh Park School of Swimming in 1975.

He said: “I got a bit emotional during the grand opening. It’s been a long time coming and I’m so pleased my parents were there to see it.

“It’s their legacy, it was my dad’s dream to build his own swimming pool and I wanted to keep that alive. I knew we could build another pool – so here we are.

“Our first customers from the pool in Whetstone back in the 1970s turned up to have a nose too, which was really nice to see.”

During the opening, the whole family got together to recreate a photograph from the pool in Whetstone.

More than 200 people from the community attended the event to toast the end of the £1million project.

Schools, including Frith Manor School, will be able to use the 20m by 8m pool during term time and it will also be open to the community.

It includes a swimming team which will take part in competitions, and a classroom where people can train to become swimming teachers and lifeguards.

Mr Rolfe added: “It’s so exciting now it’s finally up and running – I’m looking forward to it becoming a proper community pool.”