Labour MPs Carmelo Abela and Justyne Caruana hit out at the authorities yesterday over what they described as the “disastrous” state of the National Swimming Pool.

Mr Abela, the MLP’s main spokesman for education, culture and young people, and Dr Caruana, MLP spokesperson for young people and sport, said that the complex – the only one in which the country can host important international championships, had been in dire need of attention for the last few years.

Although the complex closed down for maintenance for three months every year, many believed that this closure was only intended as a way of saving the fuel required to heat the swimming pool, said the Labour spokesmen.

The complex had just re-opened and it was clear that not all the necessary maintenance work had been completed. The unfinished work was posing a threat to those making use of the complex, said the Labour MPs.

They added that Education, Youth and Employment Minister Louis Galea, who was also responsible for sport, should give an explanation regarding the “disaster” at the national complex.