A family fun day staged at leisure centres across Tendring has been hailed a success.

Tendring residents turned out for various free activities and taster sessions put on at sites in Clacton, Frinton and Walton, Dovercourt, Harwich, Manningtree and Brightlingsea run by Tendring District Council (TDC).

On top of that many parents and grandparents were able to enjoy a free swim with their youngsters at the Council's pools as part of the special events staged on Saturday.

They were organised to coincide with National Families Week and it was the first time the initiative had been tried.

Stephen Mayzes, Cabinet Member for Leisure at TDC, said the family fun day was the first of its kind in Tendring and the local Council was only too keen to get involved in making it happen.

"It was all about encouraging families to get together to share a healthy lifestyle at one of our leisure centres - and it worked," he said.

"Frinton and Walton Swimming Pool was the biggest success with the snorkelling and sub aqua sessions totally full."

Among the other sessions on offer were family aqua aerobics, karate, carpet bowls, boccia, archery, family Olympics, indoor curling, roller hockey, volleyball and the climbing wall at Manningtree Sports Centre.

2/6/09