CAMPAIGNERS gathered in their hundreds to protest at a decision to demolish a town's swimming pool.

More than 250 pool campaigners and families met outside a school to tell authorities: "We are Millom."

The protest, on the grounds of Millom School next to the pool, came a week around a week after Cumbria County Council bosses announced the facility would be demolished.

It has been closed for more than a year, with county hall chiefs saying the pool building was unsafe for public use.

But members of the Save Millom Pool campaign group have sustained a fight to be allowed to renovate pool to use until a new one is built.

Millom's deputy mayor, Councillor Angela Dixon, who spoke as a member of the community, said the protest was about getting the county council to "listen" in to people in the town.

She said: "It was a great turnout from people in Millom and showed how much support their is for a pool.

"We came to say 'We are Millom' and try to get the county council to listen to us.

"Unfortunately I do not think it will. The county council has so far cut off all contact with us and refused to listen to what we have to say.

Addressing the protest, the mayor Copeland Mike Starkie urged council bosses to meet campaigners.

He said: “We understand the frustration felt by the Millom community, and we are disappointed that Cumbria County Council has reneged on its commitment for a 12-month delay to the demolition of Millom Pool to allow further consultation to take place.

"The issue is about the Millom community and ensuring it receives the services it deserves.

“We are urging Cumbria County Council to meet with us to address the unique situation that Millom finds itself in, in terms of geographical isolation, and to devise a way forward, a funding formula and a clear plan for not only a new pool, but for a fresh appraisal of all the services in Millom.”

Campaigners said more protests are in the pipeline.