American TV star Ty Pennington has made a rallying cry to the people of Portishead to get behind an ambitious project to give the town's open-air pool a massive makeover.

Ty is coming to the town next month to give the lido, which opened in 1962, a revamp worth tens of thousands of pounds for the programme Ty's Great British Adventure.

Ty, best known for his role fronting hit USA show Extreme Makeover Home Edition, will arrive in Portishead on May 14 to start work on transforming the run-down seafront attraction into a 21st-century community pool in just seven days.

The makeover is being filmed by production company Twofour Broadcast for UKTV Style and will be shown on television later this year.

Ty said: "I'm so excited about coming to Portishead and I've heard the Severn Estuary is stunning.

"The open-air swimming pool should be a great place for families and friends to enjoy, so if anyone can donate their time, materials or just plain cash to help save this great community landmark, then we need to hear from them. Together we can make it happen."

A special hotline has now been set up for people wanting to support the ambitious makeover to get in touch.

Local businesses and individuals wanting to get involved should contact Ty's team on 01752 727448 or at ty@twofour.co.uk.

Twofour Broadcast series producer Dave Baines said: "Everybody has a part to play. Whether it be a small financial donation to the pool fund, volunteering to help during the construction week or by offering materials.

"While we'd love to hear from anybody who can pick up a paintbrush, we're especially keen to hear from locals in the construction trade who may be able to offer their services or donate materials or machinery.

"There have already been some very kind and generous offers – but we need more."

Those offering their support to the community project will also be able to meet Ty and appear on the show.

Mr Baines added: "It should be a great, fun week."

Filming will start on May 14 when Ty will arrive at the pool to meet the volunteers and see the current state of the attraction.

Trustees have already raised around £12,000 with the Give a Pound for the Pool campaign, but are keen to reach £20,000.

All money raised from the campaign will go towards the makeover and people can donate at collection boxes in stores across Portishead or online at www.portisheadopenairpool.org.uk.

Exact details of what work will be carried out at the pool are a closely guarded secret, but it is understood solar panels will be installed, the pool repainted and the foyer revamped.

The work is due to be completed on May 20 and the lido will open for the summer season on May 23.

A special event to mark the completion of the work will be held on May 20 and, although full details of the celebration are being kept under wraps, everyone who has helped the project will be invited.

Ty's team are also interested in hearing from local groups who may be able to lend a hand and possibly have Ty visit them, too.

The producers would also like to hear from anyone who has interesting stories, memories or old photographs of the pool.

North Somerset Council agreed to place the management of the pool into the hands of the Portishead Pool Community Trust in March. The agreement was reached following the Save the Open-Air Pool campaign, backed by the Post, which was launched after North Somerset Council said it planned to close the lido – one of only a few remaining open air facilities in the country.