Support for young children as they play football for the first time is the latest beneficiary of a growing partnership between water safety experts, SAS Water, and a Staffordshire football centre.

The Leek-based legionella and commercial plumbing specialists have grown strong links with both Staffordshire Ladsandads and Wellbeing Park, Yarnfield.

SAS Water supported the return of Ladsandads football following lockdown by recommissioning the changing rooms water system.

Now the company is sponsoring the Little Dots football sessions for four to seven year olds.

Nick Hemmings, Operations Director, at SAS Water Ltd, said: "It was fantastic to meet the coaches and to see more than 100 enthusiastic young children taking part in the Little Dots' sessions.

"We were delighted to be invited along to unveil our advertising at the ground in the company of Clive Dean who has done so much for local football.

"Our relationship with Ladsandads goes back to carrying out a risk assessment for the water system at the Birchenwood, Kidsgrove, Ladsandads facilities in 2020. We were pleased to then help out with the safety of the water system at Wellbeing Park and then invest in longer term support by sponsoring the Little Dots."

Nick said it was vital that all water systems in sports changing rooms were tested for legionella and other waterborne bacteria.

He explained: "It's a requirement in law that a regime is in place to test for legionella and the risks have been heightened by Coronavirus lockdowns when changing facilities were closed.

"The starting point should be a risk assessment and this should be followed by the establishment of a routine moitoring regime. The law states that a responsible person must be appointed for the legionella regime and awareness should be raised with training given to staff.

"At SAS Water, we have specialist legionella consultants and commercial plumbers and we're also skilled in delivering legionella training for charities, sporting clubs and businesses."

In a recent case, a football club's facilities in Wales were closed down when a council inspection revealed that legionella testing had not taken place for several years. The club's players were forced to play their home games at another club's ground 10 miles away.

Clive Dean, from Staffordshire Ladsandads, said: "SAS Water is top of the league for service and are also totally committed to our local community. When we first needed support at Birchenwood, they responded quickly and were happy to patiently answer all our questions."