Water babies, the UK's largest baby swimming school, has been voted the best swimming class by the What's On 4 Little Ones national award.

The organisation, which runs classes in Wrexham, has been keen to encourage mothers in the area to take their toddlers swimming.

They advise that just half an hour of swimming will provide a baby or toddler with a complete work out – including the benefit of exercising muscles they'd never use on land – and it also enhances their confidence and awareness, as well as helping to improve eating and sleeping patterns.

The company, which started in May 2007 and has classes across Shropshire Telford and North Wales, was nominated and voted for by scores of happy customers from across the country.

The awards are open to every pre-school activity in the UK, making them a genuine representation of how parents feel towards what is on offer.

Catrina Hogan who runs classes in Wrexham, said: "We are absolutely thrilled with our win and we're also delighted to have received a special commendation in the more generic 'Best Baby Development Class' category.

"We are so grateful to all our parents who took time in their busy days to bother to both nominate and vote for our classes.

"The feedback we've had is amazing and the award is a wonderful thank you to our nationwide team for all their incredible enthusiasm, commitment and care."

Catrina added that the benefits to swimming for babies and toddlers was huge and it had become very popular.

She said: "Since we began, we've seen a huge surge in interest in baby swimming.

"What was once a bit of a niche market is now completely mainstream, as more and more parents discover the benefits are so wide-ranging.

"Not only are we teaching fundamental safety skills from birth but swimming is fantastic for nurturing the bond between parent and child and is also a hugely sociable activity."

For more information on classes phone 01248 490 242 or look at www.waterbabies.co.uk