AN OUTDOOR swimming pool opened for the summer with a splash.

Youngsters and local dignitaries dived in to help launch the swimming season at Bright-lingsea’s open-air pool on Sunday. The free open day attracted hundreds of swimmers to the pool, in Promenade Way.

Stalls, a rugby match, a welly-wanging competition, face painting and a bouncy castle were among the activities also provided at the event.

The day was organised by Brightlingsea Town Council which runs the pool, with help from Brightlingsea Youth Club, 4Youth and Brightlingsea Carnival Association.

The pool, built in 1933, is one of the last remaining outdoor facilities in Essex.

It was saved from closure after the district council handed it over to the town council.

Pool manager Nathan Waller said: “It was a good start to the season. I’d like to think people who used the facilities free on Sunday will have had a good experience and will come back, willing to pay and enable us to keep on opening every year.

“It’s quite rare to find pools like this these days, especially ones in such good condition. It’s somewhere you can sunbathe and swim in a safe environment and in clean water.”

The pool is open from 10am until 1pm and from 2pm until 7pm every weekend and in the week during school holidays.

Outside school holidays, the weekday opening times are 2pm until 7pm. Admission is £3.40 for adults and £2.65 for concessions, but free for under-16s and over-65s who sign up to Tendring Council’s free swimming scheme.