A campaign to save Maryport's only swimming pool kicks-off this month and the town council looking at a £15,000 donation.

That would only happen if a trust was formed to run the pool.

Councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes warned: "This would be a one-off donation. There would need to be a trust running it," she said.

However, she said the swimming pool has originally been built because of a child drowning in the town.

"Community leaders decided at the time that no child should die in the sea because they could not swim."

A public meeting is to be held on Friday November 16 to discuss the future of the pool which has been closed down over health and safety issues and the cost of repairs.

The pool, in the Netherhall Community Sports Centre, is the only pool in Maryport and is used by all the town's schools, by the Maryport Swimming Club and by community groups.

Netherhall School head teacher David Tromans announced that it would close after half-term because of an estimated £150,000 needed to repair the pumping system.

He said it had literally come down to a choice between keeping the pool or the school open.

"The boiler is dangerously in need of repair and if we cannot heat the school we cannot keep it open."

A county council spokesman said: “The head teacher and governing body have decided to close the swimming pool due to continued revenue pressures for running such facilities. The council will continue to support the school in prioritising it’s budgets.”

"Also, to be clear, the provision of leisure facilities is not a statutory function of the school or the county council."

Workington MP Sue Hayman has pledged her support for any action to re-open the pool and will chair the meeting later this month.

Mr Tromans has also said he would work to facilitate any group wanting to take over the pool.

The meeting will be held at the school at 5pm.