Threatened swimming pool is saved

The new owners have signed a 20-year lease on the pool

A swimming pool in Somerset has been saved from closure after new owners were found.

Athlete Sara-Jane Cox and her husband Mark Conklin have taken up a leasehold on Burnham-on-Sea pool following a six-month search.

The couple said they intended to transform the pool into a new swimming and sports academy.

Tom Ashton, chairman of the town's Save Our Swim group, said the news was "absolutely fantastic".

The couple have signed a 20-year lease which ensures the site remains a pool for a minimum of 20 years.

Sedgemoor District Council had proposed to shut the facility to help plug a £1.8m gap in its budget.