VOLUNTEERS who have been campaigning to save a town's swimming pool have decided to call it a day.

The Friends of Shildon Swimming Pool have voted to disband because they have not been able to find the funding for much-needed repairs that would safeguard the pool's future.

The pool was plunged into an uncertain future after Sedgefield Borough Council said it would not pay out between £10,000 and £15,000 to carry out repairs to a leak in the swimming pool.

The borough council has since drained the pool and handed the building, in the grounds of Thornhill Primary School, back to Durham County Council, which originally ran it until it was earmarked for closure in 2002.

Alan Walker, who is a member of the Friends of Shildon Swimming Pool, said that the group was formed to support Sedgefield Borough Council with the day to day running.

Mr Walker said: "We would be able to access funding for certain things better than the council and that is why we formed.

"We never had the intention of running the pool ourselves.

"The borough council said it would give us £14,000 towards the running costs every year and we would have to find an extra £5,000 a year.

"We had plans in the pipeline for that and other things but we cannot get any help with the money for the repairs.''

Mr Walker said that it was a very difficult and sad decision to decide to call it a day but running the pool as a trust would be too much for everyone on the Friends' committee.

But there is still a glimmer of hope to save the pool, which was paid for by people in the town in the Sixties, if members of the public turn out for a special meeting on Wednesday, August 10, in the town's Methodist church when the Friends will formally disband.

Mr Walker said: "We will be inviting the people who have put their name down as being interested in running the pool to come along to the meeting and form a trust.

"We will pass on any money we have raised to the Trust," he added.