A SQUAD of the oldest swimmers in town are taking the plunge to raise cash for a support group helping to fight Britain's biggest killer.

The sprightly over 50s club are doing lengths of Haslingden Swimming Pool this week to generate cash for Rawtenstall-based group Heartbeat, which supports heart attack victims.

The event has been organised by pensioner Maureen Jackson who learnt to swim just six years ago.

She now joins 82-year-old Joan Colam every Monday for the swimming sessions -- and even dives into the pool.

She managed to round up around 30 fellow club members yesterday to start the money-raising.

The retired physiotherapy assistant, who worked at Rossendale General, and lives in Beaconsfield Street, Haslingden, said: "I was asked by a friend who volunteers for Heartbeat to try and raise some money.

Everybody seemed keen to get involved."