VOLUNTEERS who rescued and restored a community swimming pool have been honoured by the Queen.

The team behind the Weardale Open Air Swimming Pool in Stanhope, was presented with a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service by Lord Lieutenant Sir Paul Nicholson.

They also met the Queen on Monday at a reception she hosted at St James's Palace, in London.

Opened in 1974, the pool is the only public, charitable, heated open-air pool in the county.

Most of the swimmers are children and it is a magnet for visitors, particularly during the summer holidays.

Its future was threatened in 1997 when it had little funding, poor support and was becoming a target for vandals.

Supporters called an emergency committee meeting and launched a rescue drive.

Fundraiser Eileen Stoner said: "The pool is an important facility for our children. During the summer it gives them something fun to do which keeps them off the street and fit.

"It is also an important help to our local economy as an attraction to the many visitors we have to the dale."

New plans for the pool include building a conservatory with caf and function room. A Business Link grant has enabled the group to commission an architectural feasibility study."

Chairman Peter Thompson said: "We desperately want to ensure that the development work goes on, and for that we need further funding, more volunteers from the local community and more visitors.

"We have worked so hard to get the pool back to working order and although this award is a great honour, the best reward would be to see the pool full this summer."

For opening times telephone (01388) 528466.