SCHOOLCHILDREN need to raise £20,000 to repair their swimming pool.

The pool at Parsons Heath School, in Templewood Road, Colchester, has been out of action this summer after it sprung a leak and the heater stopped working.

Staff are hoping to raise enough money to reopen next summer.

Headteacher Claire Newson said: “We started to get the pool ready this year and noticed a leak.

“We hoped to get it up and running again quickly but more problems arose.

“Normally the children would have been using it around March time and then every afternoon for the whole of the summer term but lessons haven’t been happening.”

Mrs Newson said the pupils are very disappointed.

She said: “They really miss it because they still see the pool every day.

“It’s gone green now because it’s costly to buy the chemicals that keep it blue, especially if no one is using it as at the moment.

“We are now desperately trying to raise the money so this is the only summer it is out of action for.”

The open-air pool needs a new lining, heater, cover and roller cover.

The school has already approached several companies for quotes and said £20,000 would definitely cover the cost.

Mrs Newson is hoping the work can get underway by next April.

The school’s parents, friends and teachers association, which raised money for the pool 46 years ago, has already put £3,000 into the pot, and the school has raised another £2,000 so far.

Mrs Newson said: “When you think it’s 46 years old, it’s done really well.

“We are focusing on organising lots of events for September onwards to help us raise the money.

“If it had just been one problem then we probably could have dealt with it by ourselves without raising money but more just kept happening.

“The new heater is definitely necessary. Not every day is like it is at the moment, especially not in March and it can get cold.

“Anything people can spare will really help.”

The school opened 50 years ago this November, with the pool opening four years later It is 13.5 metres long and nine metres wide, measuring 0.83 metres deep.

Fundraising events are being organised by the parents, friends and teachers association for September onwards.

To donate, call the school on 01206 860612 or write to Parsons Heath Primary School, Templewood Road, Colchester.