A hydrotherapy pool that will be available for disabled people, youth groups, aqua exercise and scuba diving training is being built in a Victorian cellar.

The Aqua Clinic, in Shipley, is the brainchild of diving instructor Gary Hudson.

The pool is being built in the basement of Mr Hudson’s diving equipment shop, Duck and Dive, in Otley Road.

Excavation work on the project, for which Mr Hudson has secured a £150,000 loan, will start next month and the pool is due to open in March.

Mr Hudson, who works with Bradford Youth Service, Bradford Council and youth organisations, said: “The Aqua Clinic is a social enterprise, separate from the shop. There’ll be a separate entrance and a cafe upstairs.

“The pool will be available for anyone to hire, from disabled groups and individuals to primary care trusts, rehabilitation programmes, aqua aerobics, snorkelling and martial arts groups.

“It can be used by people who don’t use public pools, such as Muslim women who want to keep covered.

“The mother of a disabled woman rang me in tears, saying she finds it difficult to access pools for her own needs, and this is just the kind of facility she needs.”

The pool will slope from a metre to three metres deep, with space for kayak turns in the deeper end. Hydro jets will create a physiotherapy massage pool and currents for swimming classes.

“There’ll be wheelchair access, a stairlift and hoist,” said Mr Hudson. “We’ll have a team of aqua instructors to provide training in swimming, diving and watersports, and there’ll be a lifeguard for events such as children’s parties.”

Ellison Construction, of Wilsden, are carrying out the building work and the pool is being installed by Lennox Leisure, of Guiseley.

For more information about the Aqua Clinic, call (01274) 586633, e-mail pool@theaquaclinic.co.uk or visit theaquaclinic.co.uk e-mail: emma.clayton@telegraphandargus.co.uk