A SWIMMING pool in a border town has been closed until further notice due to health and safety concerns.

The charity-run pool in Hay-on-Wye needs a new lining before it can reopen, with an estimated cost of £15,000.

The parents, teachers and friends association at Hay-on-Wye school kept the pool open in 2016 after taking it over from Powys County Council.

Last year the lease of the pool on Oxford Road was taken over by members of the local community under the name of Friends of Hay Swimming Pool.

A public meeting will be held on September 25 at 6.30pm at Hay Primary School to discuss the pool's future, as well as other fundraising ideas in the pipeline.

Annaleise Davies, a trustee on the board, said it's a vital asset for the community.

"Some users have already pledged, the first thing we're trying to do is get the word out," she said.

"The public meeting at the tail end of September is to get everyone together who wants to keep the pool going.

"I feel it's such a vital part of the community, it would be stupid if we didn't try to save it."

The trustees said children from three local schools use it regularly for lesson, and without the pool in the town, they would face a 32-mile round trip to Builth Wells or Brecon.

The not-for-profit charity invest all money back into the pool, and can fund smaller projects themselves.

"Each trustee has their own role, for example we have one person looking after bookings, more than one looking after the pool and the chemical analysis.

"All of us come together to fundraise, we take it in turn to lock up, we're all volunteers.

"We rent out the pool every week. In the week it's used by school children for swimming lessons in the daytime.

"At the weekend it's booked for private parties, it's wonderful as it gets fully booked straight away. Around 400 people use it every week."

For more information, visit the fundraising page on JustGiving.