A Paralympic gold medalist who trained in Braintree is set to open the town's new multi-million-pound swimming pool.

Swimmer Giles Long, who grew up in White Court and trained at the Braintree and Bocking Swimming Club, is returning to his roots to do the honours at the Braintree Swimming Centre on March 29, the official opening date agreed by Braintree Council's pool sub-group.

He is set to be joined by TV animation character SpongeBob SquarePants, a yellow sea sponge, for a morning of activities and displays from local clubs.

London-based Mr Long, 31, who has retired from international competitions, said: "It's a complete and total honour Braintree Council has asked me to open the new pool in the town I started swimming."

Wendy Schmitt, Braintree Council cabinet member for public protection and healthy living, said the new pool was looking "absolutely fantastic" and the only remaining work to be done was to install the fun equipment.

The leisure scheme was originally meant to open in November last year, but there have been various building set-backs.

National Grid had to relay part of the gas main in December as gas pressure was insufficient to run all three boilers and Mrs Schmitt said the council was seeking written assurance from the company to back up a guarantee there would not be long-term gas pressure problems.