THE management team of Berkeley’s swimming pool is celebrating after receiving a grant to buy a new high tech water testing device.

Berkeley Educational Swimming Trust has scooped £1,000 from Persimmon Homes’s Building Futures fund.

The trust runs the pool at Berkeley Primary School, providing a clean, safe and healthy environment for physical activity.

The Persimmon grant will be spent on a photometer water tester to ensure the water quality is excellent.

The trust is also fundraising towards a fully automatic defibrillator.

Christopher Gent, of the trust, said: “We’re thrilled to receive this generous donation from Persimmon.

“We are a charity run by local volunteers which operates and maintains Berkeley Community Swimming Pool.

“The pool was built over 50 years ago by Berkeley residents and, after extensive renovation works, it continues to offer affordable swimming to the community.

“This money will allow us to buy a new device to test the water quality for everyone’s safety.”

Building Futures aims to support community groups working with under-18s across three categories – education & arts, health and sport.

A total of 128 grants of £1,000 will be awarded across Persimmon’s 32 regional businesses to improve local facilities and the delivery of vital community projects.

Three initiatives will go on to win £100,000 each through a national online public vote.

The winners will be named at a gala dinner for finalists in November.

Carly Spear, sales director at Persimmon Homes Severn Valley, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to support Berkeley Educational Swimming Trust.

“The pool is an important facility for the people of Berkeley and I tip my hat to the volunteers who keep it running so smoothly.”

Entries to Building Futures are now closed, with Persimmon set to announce its regional finalists in the coming weeks.