The roof will cost an estimated �200,000 to repair

Around 300 children from Blaenavon, Torfaen, went to nearby Pontypool to attempt a mass swim on Saturday.

Organisers said it was show that the facilities at Pontypool would not cope with the extra demand.

Torfaen Council said high running costs had led to plans to close the pool and open a school and health centre.

If all the swimmers who go to Blaenavon turned up at Pontypool all at once, they just wouldn't be able to cope Jackie Huybs, campaigner

The Blaenavon centre was damaged by storms in January, and the council has said that repairs would cost �200,000.

But people in the town are angry that the pool could be shut permanently and said it was "absolutely vital" in a town dogged by health problems and social deprivation.

Campaigners have already staged a march through the town demanding the pool is reopened and GPs in Blaenavon are supporting them, saying it is needed to encourage people to stay fit and healthy.

They said the town had some of the highest rates of heart disease in Wales, often linked to obesity.

About 300 children took part in the demonstration

On Saturday, hundreds of children and their parents travelled to Pontypool to use its pool.

Speaking before the event, Jackie Huybs, spokeswoman for Blaenavon Leisure And Swimming Troubleshooters (Blast) campaign group said: "They keep telling us that we can go down to Pontypool so we are going to show them what would happen if we all went down there.

"The fact is, asking people to travel to Pontypool is very prohibitive.

"There is very low car ownership in the town, a lot of people don't have access to a car.

"Parents are worried about sending their children on the bus.

The pink area would be the school with the yellow for the sports area

"The fact is, if all the swimmers who go to Blaenavon turned up at Pontypool all at once, they just wouldn't be able to cope," she added.

The leisure centre was damaged in a storm, and needs approximately �200,000 of repairs to the roof.

Torfaen Council has said the centre could close to make way for a new school and health centre.

The council said it cost �430,000 a year to keep the leisure centre and pool open.

A spokesman said the council had to ensure best use of public money and said that although the plans would mean the pool would close, the sports facilities at the current site would be still be available and be upgraded under the proposals.

An exhibition is open in the town's Workman's Hall on Saturday on the plans.