Last month South Holland District Council introduced a 50p charge for school swimming lessons, a National Curriculum requirement which many people think should be free.

After complaints about the new charges the district council's leisure portfolio holder Coun Nick Worth wrote to Moulton Parish Council.

He said the Government allocates funds to the county council, which transfers the money to schools specifically to teach the National Curriculum free of charge.

He added that if primary schools feel they are underfunded, they need to lobby the county council for more.

In March the Lincolnshire Free Press' sister paper the Spalding Guardian reported how pupils and staff at Moulton Chapel Primary School were unhappy with the new charges.

Headteacher Geoff Palmer said swimming lessons should be free because it is a vital skill.

He said a 50p increase for parents was not fair, especially for those with more than one child at the school.

The school currently asks parents for an 80p contribution towards the cost of transport to the pool, which actually costs about £1 but is subsidised through fundraising activities.

Mr Palmer said: "In the 16 years I have been here only two children have left school unable to swim 25 metres.

"In other words the council policy has been very successful and the vast majority of children have been able to swim enough to save their lives if they fell into a local drain or dyke."

The council says the charge, which applies to all schools using pools at Spalding's Castle Sports Complex, is necessary to help fund improvements to leisure facilities in the area.

It says the charge has been restricted to ensure it is the lowest in the county and swimming for under-fives will remain free.

Coun Worth said the charge had been approved only after he was satisfied that the district will continue to provide value for money for the service.

He said: "I have made sure that the price of a swim remains the lowest in the area and give a commitment that we will continue to do so in the future."