PLEDGES of support for the campaign to save Portishead's Open-Air Pool from closure have been flooding in.

So far £3,300 has been pledged by people supporting the Save The Open-air Pool (STOP) campaign, backed by the Evening Post.

Local residents and businesses have pledged both their time and cash towards the costs of setting up a trust to take over the management of the 1960s lido from North Somerset Council.

Members of the STOP group are currently drawing up a business case for setting up the trust and hope to submit their proposals to North Somerset Council later this month.

One man, who wanted to remain anonymous, has pledged more than £1,000 to the cause, while another individual has promised to give his skills for free to redesign the interior of the pool and cafe.

The fund was boosted to £3,300 this week by the owners of Brackenwood Garden Centre at Abbots Leigh.

The Maycock family, who have owned the Abbots Leigh garden centre for 17 years and also had a garden park at Nore Road until four years ago, pledged £600 to the STOP campaign.

John Maycock and his wife Jenny own the garden centre, which is run by his daughter Clare and her husband Chris Baker.

Mr Baker said: "As a family we felt we really wanted to get behind the STOP campaign to save the pool.

"My wife used to go there as a child and we have a one-year-old son who we hope will be able to use it as he grows up.

"We thought it would be helpful to pledge the money towards the costs of setting up a trust to save the pool.

"It would be a very sad loss for Portishead if it closes."

Pledge forms have been distributed by STOP campaigners across the town.

On one side people are asked to pledge their time and skills to the campaign and on the other, asked if they want to support the project financially.

The pledges will only be called in once the trust has been set up and permission given for it to take over the management of the pool.

The deluge of pledges comes just days after Portishead Town Council suggested STOP campaigners should apply for a grant of up to £1,000 to help with the set up costs of the trust.

STOP campaign leader Roger Whitfield said: "The fact we have had so many marvellous pledges of practical and financial support just proves the strength of feeling among the local community to save the pool.

"There have been so many people who have offered their support, it has been amazing," he said of the Portishead campaign.