A popular open-air swimming pool which was forced to shut for the hottest weekend of the year following unseasonal June flooding was re-opening today - a day forecast for rain.

Bradford Council had to close Ilkley Lido after thousands of gallons of water from the nearby River Wharfe flooded into the pool following torrential rain earlier this month.

Extensive damage was caused, leaving the Council with an £1,100 repair bill and forced sun worshippers to go elsewhere to cool down as temperatures soared into the 90s during the recent heatwave.

But the repairs have now been carried out and the lagoon-shaped pool - which has attracted up to 4,000 people on a single day - was due to re-open to the public today.

Meanwhile Council engineers are investigating whether anything can be done to ensure the same thing doesn't happen again in the future.

A spokesman for the Council's recreation service said: "After the floodwater was drained from the pool we found that pressure from the water had seriously damaged the pool bottom and that extensive repairs were required.

"Staff have worked very hard to ensure that the lido could be re-opened to the public as soon as possible and we're extremely disappointed that we couldn't open during the recent hot weather.

"The repairs have now been completed, refilling has commenced and the pool will be open as usual this weekend.''

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Con, Ilkley), the Council's executive member for the environment, said: "I'm delighted the pool is to re-open - it's a great asset not just for Ilkley but for the whole district.

"It's a shame it was closed during the heatwave, however, I hope there are going to be many more sunny days for people to enjoy the facilities.''

A Council spokesman said it was the first time the Denton Road pool, which opened in 1936, had ever flooded during the summer but added: "We're currently looking at whether there's anything we can do to eliminate or reduce similar damage in the future.''

Too much water may have forced the pool's recent closure but in October 1995 the Council allowed Yorkshire Water to drain the lido to provide more drinking water - 170,000 gallons - for drought-stricken Bradford. The water was transported to the Chellow Heights treatment plant before being piped into the mains system.

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