A PROJECT to rebuild a popular paddling pool that has fallen into disrepair is due to begin this autumn.

Poole council has joined forces with Friends of Hamworthy Park (FoHP) for the refurbishment of the facility.

The group has already raised £25,000 towards the cost of the work and is continuing to raise further funds.

The total cost of the project is £250,000, and the majority of funding will come from Poole council's Community Infrastructure Levy.

The paddling pool refurbishment follows several other improvements at Hamworthy Park over the last year, including new footpaths, improved signage, a new 'street workout' for older children, and new landscaping at the Lulworth Avenue and Branksea Avenue entrances.

In its current state, the pool cost the council £57,000 in maintenance works last year, and it is anticipated that, when rebuilt, these costs will go down.

The free facility, which opened in 1931, was last renovated in 1999, however the base and lining of the pool are damaged and will no longer be repairable in three to five years’ time.

The paddling pool will start to be drained on September 24 after being open for the summer season.

On their Facebook page, FoHP said: "We are looking forward to re-opening in 2019 with a lovely new pool!

"The plans have been progressing over the summer for the new facility and we should have an update in early October.

"A lot goes on behind the scenes to run a free facility like this. A couple of special mentions. Katie - one of the officers who rushed down to the paddling pool to sort out the glass and then worked into her weekend to coordinate efforts to get it back online again. She's also been running the considerable engineering project for the pool refurbishment. "We've also had help from Karl - who has again worked with us to secure grant funding and donated his personal time and singing talents to help us fundraise. New to the council team is Louis, he's been helping bring in some new ideas for litter management."

In a previous report to Cllr Rampton, Kevin McErlane, head of culture and community, suggested a date of April 2019 for completion of the project.