The swimming pool in the grounds of Manningtree High School could close unless extensive repairs are carried out.

But the work is expected to cost about £33,000 - some £8,000 more than the original cost of the open air pool which was opened 22 years ago by football manager Bobby Robson.

Residents throughout the school's catchment area raised the money for the pool but as the land was owned by Essex County Council, it became council's property.

Ownership was transferred to the school in Colchester Road, Lawford, when it achieved grant maintained status four years ago.

As well as high school pupils, the pool is used by primary schools and open to the public, under the management of Lawford Parish Council, during the summer holidays.

Swimming will go ahead this summer as planned from Monday.

But Brian Rolfe, chairman of the swimming pool committee, told Lawford councillors at their meeting the governors were reluctant to divert such a large sum of money from core activities and had asked the committee to try to obtain funding from other sources.

Revealing the annual running costs were in excess of £10,000, Mr Rolfe said the governors had allocated £5,000 towards the repairs and had already ordered a pump, bringing the school's total commitment to £8,000.

Proposing the parish council contribute £5,000, Margaret Francis, chairman of the council's amenity committee, said: "If we let it go out of use, it will be the end of it."

She added: "The children have so few facilities, we cannot afford to lose it."

Councillors voted unanimously to put £5,000 to the scheme, Richard Ling saying: "I don't think we have a choice if we want to keep it."

Anyone who can help by contributing to the project is asked to contact the clerk to the governors at the school.

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