SWIMMERS hoping to cool off next month with a dip in Cleobury Mortimer's only swimming pool look set to be disappointed.

South Shropshire District Council sports development team has announced it looks increasingly unlikely the pool, which is owned by the council but operated by Lacon Childe School, will have its usual early-July opening.

A health and safety inspection revealed it to be in a poor state.

Dave Hinves, district sports and leisure development officer, said costly repairs would have to be carried out before the village's open-air pool could re-open.

He said: "The pool, built in 1966, was only intended as a teaching pool for local schools and had a natural shelf life of about 30 years. As we approach the 36th year, it is showing its age."

Since 1966, it has been left open to the elements for nine months of the year before work is carried out in June ready for use in July and August.

But the recent draining of the pool to allow the surface to be re-covered with fibre glass revealed bulging loose plaster walls and remedial work is taking longer than anticipated. Paving around the pool also needs re-laying.

In addition, there have been recruitment problems caused by suitably qualified staff only being needed for two months of the year.

Four people were recruited after "strenuous efforts" and sent on a lifeguard course.

Tuition will be completed by the end of June but volunteers will still have to attend a 12-hour workshop at the Cleobury pool. And once repairs are complete, it will take another 10 days to fill the pool and heat and treat the water.

Mr Hinves said: "As the end of the summer term approaches, time is running out for the traditional opening date."

But he said sports centre manager Lee Hassan remained optimistic the work could be completed to allow a limited period of opening during the summer holidays.