A SCHOOL has been given the go ahead to build its own swimming pool.

Lee Chapel School, in the Knares, Basildon, will build its own changing rooms and toilets to go with the pool.

It will all be incorporated in a new extension connected to the school.

The plans were submitted to Basildon Council in June to allow all 600 children who go to the school to have swimming lessons.

At the moment, only 60 have lessons at Basildon Sporting Village, for half an hour a week.

The on-site pool will allow all children, from nursery to Year 6, to have lessons during school time. The pool will be used by both the school and community clubs.

The children have been fundraising for the new pool, which will cost thousands of pounds, by holding cake sales.

The exact cost of the pool is not known.

Work is expected to start in the coming weeks after Basildon Council gave permission for the plans this week.