A class of lucky schoolchildren will be able to make a splash in the pool at Thornton Heath's £8million new sports centre before it opens to the public.

The Guardian has teamed up with the state-of-the-art leisure complex to enable one school class to have sole use of the 25-metre pool for up to an hour on Friday, April 30 a day before its official opening.

The new leisure centre has replaced the old-fashioned municipal baths in the High Street, Thornton Heath. It was funded by Croydon Council along with £2.8million lottery money from Sport England.

Parkwood Leisure, a private company, built the centre as part of a public private partnership deal.

As well as the 25-metre pool, the centre has a smaller pool, suitable for private lessons and which is also screened for privacy.

There is also a high-tech fitness studio, four court sports hall for use for five-a-side football, basketball and volleyball, a caf and creche. And it includes a healthy living centre, which will address the links between health and fitness.

Membership to the leisure centre costs £34.50 a month for peak time use.

The centre will officially open to the public on Saturday, May 1. Opening times are 9am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 6pm at weekends. Call 020 8689 5300.

l For your chance to win a sneak preview of the new pool, write to the Guardian in no more than 100 words explaining why your class should win.

Send your entry to pool competition, Croydon Guardian, 10 Pegasus Road, Croydon CR0 4RN, including details of your class and school. Closing date is Monday, April 26.