For more than 100 years people have been able to to enjoy Wigton baths and the team looking after it at the moment are refusing to let Covid-19 stop them in their tracks.

This year has been like no other and the community run pool is fighting hard to keep afloat.

The team are taking on a mammoth challenge and hope they will stay on target to raise enough money to make improvements and continue offering people a place to learn to swim and keep fit.

Proud to be helping keep the pool afloat, Kathryne Hodgson, Trustee of Wigton Baths Trust, said: “The pool relies on local use, constant fund-raising efforts, grants and community support bids, such as the Co-op local community fund, to maintain its equipment, and remain open to provide essential swimming facilities to the area.

“We hope the baths will be here for generations to come, teaching children to swim and remaining a community pool run for the benefit of the people of Wigton and the surrounding area.

“Covid-19 may have knocked us back a step, but we intend to keep the pool open for future generations to enjoy and provide fond memories like those remembered by past generations of swimmers at Wigton baths."

Hoping to build a better future for the popular baths she added: “We are fund-raising to enable the building of an extension by creating an upper floor above the changing/reception area to provide dry-side space for local classes such as first-aid, lifeguard sessions, kids parties.

“We want to add a vending services and a spectator area along the shallow end of the pool for parents to watch children’s swimming lessons.

“This would be accessible by stairs and a lift. The plans for this work are posted in the reception area, and the projected cost to be raised is £350,000 to which we are a third of the way there so far.

“We would also love to remove the current false ceiling allowing an unobstructed view of the decorative tongue and groove roof and rafters and 12 ceiling windows allowing natural light to flood the pool and for swimmers to look up and see the sky.

“The pool has a footfall of approx 3,000 people per month and is very much at the heart of leisure facilities in Wigton. Parking is being expanded and a new access route is being built through the housing estate on the old Hopes Auction site.”