Outdoor pool extends season in 'summer of sunshine'

An outdoor swimming pool is to extend its summer season following a record-breaking number of visitors.

The open air pool in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, had more than 9,000 people attend by the end of July, compared with 3,039 during the same period last year.

West Oxfordshire District Council said due to a "summer of sunshine and sold-out sessions" cool water swimming at the site will be available from 31 August until 27 September, with possible further extensions if the weather remained warm.

The summer has seen several heatwaves in the region, with the Met Office saying it is likely to be the hottest on record.

The seasonal four-lane 25m pool has so far offered cool water swimming from May, before switching to heated water during the school holidays.

Tim Sumner, executive member for arts, culture and sports at the council, said: "It has been brilliant to see Woodstock Open Air Pool enjoyed by so many people this summer, and I'm really pleased that we can now keep the season going into September.

"We know there is a real appetite for outdoor swimming, particularly from our cool water swimming enthusiasts, so I'm delighted this extension provides further opportunities for people to keep active and enjoy this popular community facility for even longer."

Ryan New, general manager of the pool, said: "It's been an incredible season at Woodstock, we've loved seeing so many people coming through the doors, from regular swimmers to families enjoying the pool for the first time.

"Outdoor swimming is a fantastic way to stay active and there's something really special about being able to keep this much-loved facility open to swimmers as we head into early autumn.

"We'll be keeping a close eye on the weather too, and if conditions are on our side, we'll explore opportunities to extend the season even further."