AN emergency meeting is being called as a community pulls together to save its swimming pool.

Campaigners have vowed to fight last week's shock decision by Sedgefield Borough Council to close Shildon's community pool.

Members of the town council expressed their disappointment at the decision when they met on Monday night and are now calling an emergency meeting with the Friends of Shildon Community Pool to see what can be done to save the facility.

Mick Waterson, Shildon town clerk, said that councillors were stunned by the decision and had asked that he write to Sedgefield Borough Council regarding the situation.

The decision to close the pool was made last week after it was revealed it had developed a leak that would cost about £10,000 to repair.

Cabinet members said that they felt it would no longer be economically viable to keep it open after also being told the pool was running at a loss. The council has been running the facility at Thornhill Primary School since 2002 after Durham County Council announced that it was to close.

Head of leisure Phil Ball said: "We could have sat back and let the pool close in 2002 but we have managed to keep it open for two more years. Unfortunately, we just cannot keep it open any longer.''

Flo McColl, who is secretary of the Friends of Shildon Community Pool, said she and her colleagues had been shocked by the decision.