Wolverhampton paddling pool stays open as sun shines

The well-known Tettenhall Pool in Wolverhampton had been due to close for winter but bosses say they are now keeping it open after a mini heatwave hit the region on Wednesday and Thursday.

They have provisionally planned to keep it open for the rest of the month but say it may close earlier if the weather deteriorates.

It comes after temperatures reached 25C (77F) on Wednesday and yesterday prompting residents to flock to the pool, which is one of the city's most popular attractions.

The pool attracted up to 3,000 people a day during the peak of the summer heatwave in July.

The move to keep the site open has been welcomed by Tettenhall Regis ward councillor Jonathan Yardley, who said the pool had enjoyed one of its busiest ever summers.

He said: "I think it's a good idea and it will enable people to take advantage of what seems to be the last of the summer weather.

"I think it has been busier this year than ever before. We had a really hot few weeks and we had up to 3,000 people there a day at one point."

The increase in people using the siteover summer led to a crackdown on sun-seekers who Councillor Yardley said were leaving the beauty spot looking like a 'scene from the wild west.'

He said large groups of youths had left the area strewn with litter, broken bottles, shopping trolleys and used barbecues.

Wolverhampton City Council spokesman Gurdip Thandi said: "We are being guided by the weather, so if in a couple of weeks it went cold and miserable then we would probably close it."

The pool opens for the summer season at the end of May.