COMMUNITY leaders in Northleach are pleading with businesses and organisations to help them save the town's only outdoor swimming pool from closure.

Volunteers have been working hard to raise the profile of their campaign to replace a 20-year-old boiler that was damaged beyond repair during last winter.

The outdoor pool, next to Northleach Primary school, is usually ready for visitors to use at the end of May but without a replacement boiler this is not going to be possible.

With the whole project costing £6,000, volunteers now fear that the pool may never re-open.

Jill Manning, fundraising co-ordinator for the Friends of Northleach Swimming Pool, said: "Nobody wants to lose a pool that has been used by several generations of families in the town.

"There are parents of children at the primary school who remember learning to swim in this pool, and they would like their children to have the opportunity to do the same.

"We have already raised over £2,000 from local people and businesses, including a generous £1,000 donation from Northleach Club Ltd, the company that manages the sports and social club in the town. "We have been delighted by the support and generosity of local residents but there is still some way to go to reach our target."

Jenny Lane, 38, has been using the pool since primary school age and said people in Northleach should get behind the fundraising bid.

"It would be so tragic if the pool was to never open again," she said. "It's one of the best assets we have here.

"I know the economic climate is not great but organisations would know that their money was going to a worthwhile cause and they could even come and use it."

To help the volunteers send cheques made payable to Friends of Northleach Swimming Pool to c/o Northleach C of E Primary School, Mill End, Northleach, Gloucestershire, GL54 3HJ.

To make a secure online donation go to charitygiving.co.uk/donate/northleachswimpool