A WEST Somerset swimming club which provides vital therapy for stroke and heart attack patients could be left high and dry unless it can find lifeguards to cover its sessions.
PALS - Pro-Active Lifestyle and Swimming Water Activities Club - provides twice weekly swimming for its 120-strong membership at St Audries Bay Holiday Park, near Williton.
The organisation was forced to relocate following the closure of Minehead's Aquasplash leisure centre almost 18 months ago and a failed campaign to keep the facility open.
PALS chairman Michael Day said the organisation, which had been operating under the auspices of Aquasplash, had become self sufficient with the help of grant aid from West Somerset Council and Somerset County Council.
But he said the group had to provide two lifeguards for each swimming session at its new location.
"Until now we have been able to use lifeguards from Butlins holiday centre in Minehead, who we have obviously paid," said Mr Day.
"But with the new tourist season starting, they are needed at Butlins.
"If we can't get lifeguards, we can't run the sessions and that would be absolutely terrible because they are a lifeline for our members - it means so much to them."
Mr Day said PALS, which has been running for about the last 17 years, was appealing to trained lifeguards across the West Somerset area to get in touch if they could help.
The sessions run on Wednesdays from 10am -11.30am and on Fridays from 11am - 12.30pm.
"We will be struggling to find cover from today (Friday) so we are desperate to try and resolve this problem," said Mr Day.
Anyone who can help is asked to contact Mr Day on 01984 640380.