...because health and safety rules say he can't supervise his two sons

A single father was left stunned after he was turned away from a swimming pool when staff told him he could not provide proper supervision for his two sons.

Phillip Smith and sons Jake, aged five, and Aiden, three, were not allowed to enjoy a swim at the leisure centre because under-eights must be accompanied on a one-to-one basis by adults.

He was told sessions were available for single parents with more than one child, where there is extra supervision available, but these were early in the morning at weekends or during school hours in the week.

Mr Smith, 37, from Killamarsh in Sheffield, who is separated from his sons' mother, accused the leisure centre of 'discriminating against single parents'.

He said: 'As a fireman, I'm highly trained and expected to be able to provide first aid at emergencies.

'To say I cannot cope with looking after my two sons at a swimming pool is just mad.'

After they were turned away from Sheffield's Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Mr Smith took his sons to nearby Ponds Forge instead, where they were both allowed in.

Mr Smith said: 'A change of policy is in order. I do feel strongly about discrimination in any form.

'This policy limits the options of single parents to an unacceptable level when they have every right to take their kids swimming whenever any other parents might wish to go.

'I discussed the situation at length with the duty manager explaining that I am a firefighter and well able to supervise my own children.

'The manager refused to do anything but hide behind policy.'

Sheffield International Venues, which runs both venues, said different policies on parental supervision were in place at its pools 'based on facilities present and a risk assessment'.

An SIV spokeswoman said: 'All three Sheffield International Venues with swimming pools follow recommendations from the Institute of Sport and Recreational Management (ISRM) regarding guidelines for parental accompaniment of young children.

'Policies do vary from venue to venue and are based on facilities present and a risk assessment following the institute’s guidelines.

'The recommendations are designed for the safety of children in swimming pools and are in no way discriminatory to lone or single parents.

'They are there to encourage and facilitate parents and other childcarers, including single parents, to safely bring their children swimming. All venues are committed to ensuring the safety of all customers.

'At Ponds Forge children under the age of 8 years must be accompanied in the water at all times by a responsible person (16 years or older).

'Children under the age of 4 years must be accompanied by a responsible person (16 years or older) on a one-to-one basis unless they are using the baby pool area only.

'In this case Ponds allows one adult to supervise two under 4’s. Children aged between 4 & 7 years must be accompanied by a responsible person on a maximum two-to-one basis.

'Hillsborough Leisure Centre operates on a one on one basis for children under the age of eight since there is no separate toddler pool.

'However, special sessions are held in off peak times where this rule is relaxed to make it accessible for lone and single parents/carers.'