If you want to park free of charge at Gillingham’s Black Lion leisure centre you'll have to give up any couch potato ways.

Pensioners could make use of the free swimming sessions now on offer for over-60s to retain free parking, councillors were told. The free swimming is funded by government and NHS Medway cash.

The vision of pensioners descending on the Black Lion was conjured up by Cllr Teresa Murray (Lab) and came after the council had voted to introduce charges for parking.

At the moment it is free, but it will soon cost 90p for the first hour. Black Lion users will be able to get a refund.

That’s when Cllr Murray came up with an idea. She joked: “I am thinking I will organise an itinerant band of pensioners to go in, get their free swim and a refund on parking so they can go off and continue to enjoy free shopping trips.”

Cllr Paul Godwin (Lab), the opposition leader, who pointed out the council was not paying towards the free swims, congratulated Cllr Rodney Chambers for providing water in the pools.