A town council is counting on the support of its residents to save its historic open-air swimming pool.

Brightlingsea has received a £50,000 grant from Tendring Council to operate its pool for the next two summers.

A further £50,000 will be available to refurbish it, if it proves to be a viable option.

The pool - which was built in 1933 - is the largest in the district and organisers are holding an open day there this Saturday to start the season.

Tendring's leisure portfolio holder, Pierre Oxley, said that it was now the community's opportunity to show how much it wants to keep the pool.

"It is the biggest of our swimming pools in Tendring - 50 metres long and about 20 metres wide," he said.

"We have given the town council the grant for the next two summers and it will very much be down to how much use it gets over that period as to whether the facility will be retained."

  • For more information on opening hours or bookings, call 01206 303067, or 01255 686688.
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