"HEATH bosses are warning that pond swimmers need to start paying for their dips or face the possibility of compulsory charging.

Catherine McGuinness, chairwoman of the Hampstead Heath management committee at the Corporation of London, said takings from honesty boxes at the mixed, ladies' and men's bathing ponds were disappointing.

So far just £9,406.50 has been raised since the machines - which charge £2 for a swim (we thought that was 'request', Ed ) - were installed in June. CoL was hoping to make £80,000 a year to support the running of the ponds.

Ms McGuinness said: "The situation at the ponds is deeply disappointing and the income thus far is a long way short of what we had expected to make."

(Via Ham and High Express Donate for pond use or we will start charging: .)

| Hampstead Heath | 24 October 2005; 12:33:51 AM |# | | |