AN historic open-air pool could hold the key to a top swimming club's dreams of Olympic glory.

Vice chairman of Greenwich Borough Mariners (GBM) Mike Gregory is calling for a roof on Charlton Lido so his club can secure extra training time in the 50m Olympic-sized pool.

The father-of-one, whose 14-year-old son Michael trains with GBM, says there is currently "no chance" of any of the club's 115 swimmers making it to the 2012 Olympics because they cannot get enough training time across the borough's six public pools.

The club is having to turn to private pools to get more training time because the council's provider Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) is struggling to accommodate them.

The Charlton Lido, founded in 1939, opens to the public for just eight weeks of the year but Mr Gregory says it could be used all year round if it was roofed over.

The club currently trains for 12 hours a week with its 18 top swimmers, but needs a further four hours a week to give the budding team the chance to compete at the highest level.

Last year, three members of GBM competed in the National Swimming Championships in Sheffield and the club has a further four swimmers hoping to swim in the event in August.

Mr Gregory, 48, said: "We have swimmers in our squad who have the potential to reach the Olympics.

"But because we can't get any more training time it means there is no chance of our hopefuls reaching that standard."

He says Greenwich Council and GLL must consider improving the situation.

He added: "Bearing in mind Greenwich is an Olympic borough I find this situation absolutely bewildering. I feel the council and GLL is desperately failing our children."

Mr Gregory is now in the process of planning talks with Greenwich Council's sports development officers.

A council spokesman said: "We are happy to confirm we are intending to open the Lido to the public this summer.

"A roof would require substantial funding which would need to be identified from other partners."