The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has given all English local authorities a fresh chance to take advantage of the government's £140m free swimming initiative.

More than four million free swims have been taken at swimming pools since the scheme was launched in April, with 259 councils across the country providing free swimming for senior citizens. 190 of those also offer free swimming to young people. Culture secretary Ben Bradshaw has now encouraged those local authorities not currently offering free swimming for people under 16 years old, as well as the 67 councils that are not taking part at all, to apply for up to £1m of unallocated funding to extend the scheme further.

In addition, local authorities offering free swimming provision for both senior citizens and young people will be able to apply for a share of the £25m Capital Modernisation Fund in 2010-11 to help build new, or significantly refurbish, pool facilities. Bradshaw said: "The government's free swimming initiative has been a huge success and most councils are working with us to make free access to local pools a reality, with many injecting money themselves.

"But a minority are not offering it all, or only for senior citizens. We want all of them to have a chance now - after seeing how successful it has been - to jump in and share the full benefits with their local communities." The £140m initiative is being co-funded by five government departments: the DCMS; the Department for Children, Schools and Families; the Department of Health; the Department for Work and Pensions; and the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Communities secretary John Denham said: "We want more people, both young and old, to swim for free - and save money, make friends and get fit in one go. Councils have a fresh chance to get in on the game under our free swimming scheme and let more kids and teenagers take part too." Local authorities wanting to either join or extend the scheme have until 8 September to express interest, while those seeking funding from the Capital Modernisation Fund - to be administered by Sport England - are advised to inform the government as soon as possible.