Thorne Leisure Centre is the first in the Doncaster area to bring Waterwalkers into their summer swimming programme.

Children will be taking part in this latest craze by using inflatable "human hamster balls" to run, jump and bounce across the swimming pool without even getting wet.

Councillor Patrick Wilson, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "The Waterwalkers are a different and exiting way for children to enjoy themselves while keeping fit.

"I hope the addition of this activity to the summer swimming programme will attract more children to the pool over the holidays while at the same time allowing them an opportunity to benefit from this new type of exercise."

The first Waterwalkers event took place yesterday afternoon with sessions planned to continue throughout the summer holidays every Thursday morning, as an alternative fun activity in the Centre's summer swimming programme.

The inflatable balls are on ropes and are supervised by lifeguards at the side of the pool to make sure no one will injure themselves on the sides of the pool.