VOLUNTEERS who took over an open-air swimming pool in London 25 years ago and made it a huge success have thrown their weight behind the campaign to save Portishead's pool.

The trustees of Hampton Pool, which sits on the corner of Bushy Park on the Hampton Court Palace estate, have offered their support to Save The Open-Air Pool (STOP) campaigners who want to put the pool in the hands of a trust to save it from closure.

Marshall Lees, 72, was involved with the takeover and regeneration of Hampton Pool since 1983 and was one of the founders of the trust that now runs it. Mr Lees, who was chairman of the trust for 12 years, said: "What we have done in Hampton just shows what can be achieved. We would be more than happy to offer advice and help to the people in Portishead who want to secure the future of the pool by putting it in the hands of a trust."

In 1980, swimmers in Hampton were faced with the same situation as those in Portishead are now, after Richmond on Thames Borough Council announced plans to close Hampton Pool.

Council chiefs said the lido, which was built in 1922, had become too costly to run and they were subsidising each swim by more than £3.

The plan was to close the pool for good, tell swimmers to use the indoor pools in the area, and hand the land back to the Royal Parks department. But users of the pool were dismayed at the plans and three years later, in 1983, decided to campaign to reopen it.

A group of volunteers was set up, comprising solicitors, accountants, swimmers and a head teacher to form a trust.

The group wrote to the council, which said it would support them taking over the pool, but that the trust would need £40,000 to cover the costs for the first season. The council said it would match every pound they raised.

At the time, the group had £10 in its bank account. However, through fundraising events, including sponsored swims, house to house collections and events in local pubs and clubs, it managed to raise £20,000. The council kicked in another £20,000 and the then Greater London Council also awarded them a £25,000 grant, so the fund reached £65,000.

The trust then set to work upgrading the facility. Volunteers from the Manpower Service Commission were also brought in to help, carrying out maintenance at the pool and taking on staff roles.

The pool opened again in 1985 for the summer season and in the first year welcomed 25,000 visitors through the door – compared to just 12,000 when it was run by the council.

Over the years, and helped by an annual grant of about £30,000 from the council, the trustees have managed to add a gym, multi-activity room and a cafe. It has also purchased a further half-acre of land at the park to use as a recreation area.

The pool, a not-for-profit charitable organisation run by a board of directors and trustees, now has 125,000 visits each year and turns over £800,000 annually. Any profits are ploughed back into the facility.

It used by schools, swimming clubs and a triathlon club, which runs events at the pool five times a year.

Plans for a £900,000 refurbishment of the pool to upgrade changing rooms and add a learner pool in 1991 prompted the decision to open all year.

The 36-metre by 18-metre pool is now open every day, including Christmas, when about 1,000 attend for a festive morning dip.

Entry to the pool is £5, but the trust offers season tickets for regular visitors, bringing the cost down to about £3.

Mr Lees said: "I would urge the local councils in Portishead to get behind the idea of a trust like ours did."

"We are very proud of what we have achieved with Hampton Pool and are thrilled that so many people get pleasure out of it and feel healthier as a result.

"On a summer's day it is not unusual to have 1,500 people visit the pool."

He said that for the trust idea to work it had to have backing from local residents, the council and community groups in the town.

He said: "Some local authorities think that open-air pools are no longer viable, but this could not be further from the truth.

"It was a do-or-die situation for us and we were successful because we had the support of the local community and the council and people on the trust with lots of different skills."

STOP campaign leader Roger Whitfield said he was delighted to have the support of the Hampton Pool Trust.

Mr Whitfield said: "The success of the Hampton Pool Trust just shows what can be achieved when a community works together. I very much welcome their support and will be contacting them to see how they can help the STOP campaign (in Portishead)."