Dorset swimmers get more cold-water sessions at Shaftesbury town Lido

There were three sessions on Boxing Day at the Shaftesbury pool

Swimmers have taken a Boxing Day dip in a town lido, which is set to host more cold-water swimming sessions in 2024.

Shaftesbury Town Council opened the lido for four weekends in November to December as part of a trial.

Following the popularity of these sessions they will now continue every Saturday from 6 January through to March.

There were three sessions on Boxing Day at the only public outdoor pool of its kind in Dorset.

The outdoor pool is one of the oldest in the country, dating back to the mid-19th Century

Town clerk, Brie Logan, said: "We have been so blown away by the positive response to our cold-water swimming trial and are over the moon that these sessions will help the Lido to become a true community facility that is open all year round.

"We could not have had this success without the support of our Pool Attendants, Adam and Alice, and our cold-water experts, Harriet and Lindsay.

"They have made the experience what it is and have proved very popular with our swimmers."

Harriet Green said swimmers in the area were trying to "create a social community"

Open water swimming coach Harriet Green, who is supporting the winter trial, said there had been a "great turnout" on Boxing Day.

She said swimmers in the area were "trying to make it even better, more popular and create a social community around it".

Shaftesbury's outdoor pool is one of the oldest in the country, dating back to the mid-19th Century when the town's water works was built to provide a water supply for the poor.

The town's first swimming club was formed in 1891, with members using the pool, carved out of solid greenstone, known as The Tank.

The town council took over its running and refurbished the pool in 2016 as a "much-treasured community asset" offering swimming classes and private hire.

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