LEISURE centres and swimming pools are due to reopen for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown on Saturday.

Users, however, must pre-book sessions as part of new arrangements, and can only pay by card. Each session will be limited to one hour on site, and changing rooms will only be available at swimming facilities.

The width of swimming lanes will be double to keep people further apart.

The pool at Pancras Square in King’s Cross will have a delayed reopening due to “essential maintenance works”, while all weather pitches attached to leisure centres will remain off limits unless they are being used for supervised activities.

A full return to capacity and the reintroduction of all services is not expected in 2020, and is pencilled in for some time in the first six months of next year.

Clubs based at leisure centres, such as swimming teams, are not expected to be back until the end of September or early October.

Culture chief Councillor Jonathan Simpson said: “We will be preparing thoroughly and taking all possible precautions to make our facilities as safe as possible for residents and staff. We must all keep on social distancing to stop the virus spreading as we begin to open up.”

People who want to use the services but do not have the internet can use a “book in” centre at each site.