LEISURE chiefs face a £100,000 compensation bill after admitting full responsibility for a cryptosporidium outbreak in a public swimming pool.

LEISURE chiefs face a £100,000 compensation bill after admitting full responsibility for a cryptosporidium outbreak in a public swimming pool.

Bosses of Eastwood Pool, in Giffnock, have accepted a damning NHS Greater Glasgow report into maintenance levels at the centre, describing the findings as "accurate".

Five families are suing the council after almost 30 swimmers fell ill with the stomach bug in August 2003. They had to wait more than four years for a health inspectors' report into the outbreak, which was released at Christmas.

Now council officials have revealed they won't challenge the findings - further boosting hopes of compensation for those affected.

Ken McKinlay, head of culture and sport at East Renfrewshire, said: "The report contains a clear and accurate analysis of the events surrounding the cryptosporiosis outbreak. There is no argument with its conclusions or its recommendations.

"Lessons have been learned from the experience of 2003 and pool management issues identified have been addressed.

"There has been considerable investment in equipment and practices have been revised."

A team, led by public health consultant Dr Helen Irvine, found the pool had poor scum drainage, neglected water filters and sub-standard water in its teaching pool.

Cameron Fyfe, of Ross Harper solicitors, who represents some of those affected, said: "In my opinion this report gives us enough ammunition to prove there was negligence on the part of the council.

"I have written to the insurance companies for the council, in each of the cases, urging them to pay up in light of the report."

Around 50 swimmers reported symptoms of the bug and 29 cases were officially confirmed. Twenty compensation cases are outstanding, worth a total of £100,000.

The public health report was due to be published in October 2005, but was hit by delays.

Tests revealed the bug had infected the filtration system of the main pool and two smaller pools.

The clean-up involved the removal of 45 tonnes of sand from the filtration system, the regrouting of pool tiles and the addition of extra chlorine in the pool.

A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council said the pool was open again, adding: "There were failings with the filtration system but the issue has been resolved."