Swimmers praise lido's first ever extended season

Peterborough Lido has been kept open into December for the first time in its history

Swimmers have welcomed being able to use an outdoor swimming pool throughout the autumn.

Peterborough Lido is to close for winter on 10 December after a first extended season since it opened in 1936.

It was kept open beyond September as an alternative to the Regional Pool, which was shut when unsafe concrete was found in the building.

Friends of the Lido members said they hoped the "fantastic experience" would continue in the coming years.

The water temperature has been kept heated to about 18C (64F)

Peterborough City Council said more than 40,000 swimmers had enjoyed the the outdoor heated pool on Bishop's Road since the start of the season in April.

Helen Cross, a member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Bluetits swimming group, said: "It's been fantastic to have a safe outdoor space to swim when there are strong stream warnings on the local rivers."

Howard Marshall, another regular at the lido, said: "It's a new experience being able to swim in the winter, having learnt to swim here almost 60 years ago."

Friends Mandy, Helen and Julie have been regulars at the pool this year

Clare Marshall and David Godfrey from the Friends of Peterborough Lido said they were "elated" at the extension until December.

Ms Marshall said: "I have enjoyed it every morning. It was widely used and we hope it will continue to be well-used in the coming years."

"Open water swimmers have come and joined us too. But we get a mix of age groups enjoying the pool. It's a place that brings people from so many different walks of life together."

Laura Saunders has held yoga classes at the lido despite the cold weather

Mr Godfrey said: "It's a wonderful asset to our city and I hope we can keep it going.

"I find swimming, especially in the outdoors, thrilling. Plus swimming has so many health benefits."

The city council said it hoped to reopen the lido at the earliest opportunity next year.

It is not yet known if and when the Regional Pool will reopen but the council said it had received the report on reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) and was looking at the details.