JUST keep swimming, swimming, swimming.

Swimming is an important life-long, lifesaving skill.

Annie Green said teaching children to swim is all about learning to respect water.

"They need to be aware of what water is," she said.

"They need to be comfortable in the water and know that if they get into trouble they have the skills to get themselves out."

She said every adult and child should be able to swim.

"You never know when you or someone you love is going to be in a situation where you will have to be able to swim to save them," she said.

"I simulate as many different situations as I can so people have an idea how to act when they are in them.

"I try to get them thinking outside the box, if someone is struggling in the water you are not always going to have a noodle to throw to them, can you use a stick? Or a jacket?"

A few years ago one of Mrs Green's students had a scary encounter in the water.

"She fell off a large rock and into dirty, cold, deep water," she said.

"She was able to get to the side but started to panic when she thought the fish in the water would bite her.

"She tried to climb on a rock to get out but couldn't."

Mrs Green said the girl's sisters didn't know what to do and it was thanks to a stranger passing by that the girl is still here today.

"After that incident her mother put her into lessons three times a week," she said.

"She's very lucky to be here today - I can't emphasis how important swimming lessons are."

Mrs Green said there are still many adults who don't know how to swim.

"In the future I'd like to think everyone knows how to swim," she said.

"Water plays such a huge part in our lives and we should be enjoying it.

"There is no better feeling for me when I can see a child smile with confidence, have fun and be safe in the water."