COUNCILLORS in Egglescliffe have given up the fight to save a school swimming pool.

With "great sadness", members of the parish council accepted the pool at Durham Lane Primary "has had its day".

The pool building will now be demolished and the land reinstated.

But councillors are anxious that the community knows they did their best to save the community facility.

The small pool would have needed more than £40,000 spending on it to bring it up to scratch.

After an investigation into its use, Stockton council decided such costs could not be justified.

When the issue first arose last year, Egglescliffe Parish Council decided to try to save the pool, possibly by taking on ownership itself.

But at a recent meeting, members heard the struggle had run its course.

Chairman, Coun Linda Vernon, said: "I feel very sad this amenity is going. It was well used. It has just got into such a poor state of repair it will take a lot of money to put it right."

Coun John Fletcher said the pool had been unused for a time to see if schools were happy taking children to the new Splash complex in Stockton instead.

He said the pool's boiler equipment was out of action.

"That is a biggie to repair," he said. "Engineers also have doubts about the pool sides, which need to be re-lined."

But still unwilling to give in, Coun Pete Andrew suggested a lottery grant to fund repairs with the parish then taking on responsibility for the pool.

However, Coun Dennis Summerell said: "We couldn't meet the running costs even if it was repaired."

Coun Fletcher said: "This was really a primary school pool and would not be much good for teenagers who want to swim properly. If it was saved, would they use it?"

Coun Summerell warned a 60-70pc increase on the parish precept could be needed just to fund part-time staff.

It was agreed to note Stockton's recommendation with great regret.