NICOLA Robertson is taking on a labour of love by swimming 10 miles to raise money for Breast Cancer Now.

The working mum is ploughing through the pool at Bowhill, 640 lengths in total, to help the charity and give her a new challenge.

Despite an association with Cardenden Amateur Swimming Club that stretches back to the early 1980s, Nicola explained it's years since she's actually been in the water.

Swimming has been a real family affair and she told the Times: "I've been involved with the club since I was five and I'm 45 now!

"I used to sit and watch my brothers swim and my mum and dad were also involved.

"I was married, came back with my family and they've all been through it too.

"The last 10 years I've been teaching, we've no coach at the moment so I've been taking on that role.

"So I hadn't been in the water for about six years, I've always been poolside."

Nicola is on target to raise just over £300 for Breast Cancer Now, a UK charity providing world-class research and life-​changing care for people affected by breast cancer.

She is doing so many lengths per visit, when the Times caught up with her she was just over halfway, and added: "I read about it on Facebook.

"There's been cancer in my family, as with so many others, so I thought I could raise money for a good cause and it's given me a challenge while the club is on holiday for the summer.

"I used to swim for Cardenden as a competitive swimmer, it's a while back now, and I enjoyed getting back in.

"It's getting easier, I'm getting a bit fitter and quicker."

Nicola is one of a group of dedicated volunteers who help run the club but they're looking for more people to take the plunge and get involved.

Bowhill Swimming Pool, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019 and where the club is based, was built thanks to local miners who made contributions from their weekly wage.

And she added: "Right now we've only got about 16 swimmers but we're keeping going and hope to get new members now that restrictions are easing and we can get back in the pool.

"Because the swimming pool was built thanks to miners from this area it should be close to local people's hearts.

"Anyone that's got time to spare and would like to help out or swim can contact us.

"I do my best but we really need a coach too."

Anyone interested or who would like to know more can email cardendenasc@hotmail.co.uk.