An active swimmer has been told she can no longer use her regular pool without a carer.

Maureen Blake, of Milland Court, Borehamwood, has swum at the swimming pool at the Holiday Inn hotel for the past 11 months – but has now been told she can no longer use the facility.

The 76-year-old swims at the Rowley Lane hotel every morning with a group of her friends, after her surgeon told her she would need to get fit before undertaking a knee operation.

However, staff at the hotel have now said that policy states users cannot swim unaccompanied in the unmanned pool in case of an emergency, and have stopped Mrs Blake from using its facilities.

She said: “I’m broken-hearted. I used to get up at quarter to six every morning to go there as it was only about a mile. My life was so different but now sometimes I don’t get dressed until three or four in the afternoon.

“My state of mind was so much better and now I feel that has been taken away from me. My surgeon said I now might not need the operation and he’ll be so angry when I tell him I’ve had to stop swimming.

“It was lovely there – I’d made friends with so many lovely people, most of them older than myself, but it seems to be just me that can no longer go.”

Holiday Inn has now refunded one month’s membership, but states Mrs Blake will need to have a form signed by her doctor to be able to use the pool in the future.

Angela Fairgrieve, general manager of the hotel, said: "The safety of our guests and our employees is our primary concern.

“The pool at our hotel is unmanned and therefore we ask all guests who require assistance whilst entering and exiting the pool not to swim unaccompanied in case of an emergency."