SHAP'S Open Air Swimming Pool could soon be getting a retracting roof and be opening in winter.

Sport England has offered a £100,000 grant to help support the project and organisers of the campaign, hoping to raise £500,000 for much-needed improvements, say the new is simply "brilliant".

Fund-raising campaign organiser Mal Stubbs said: "It's a significant amount and it will be a sort of a kick start to access more funding."

The money raised will go towards replacing old equipment and providing full disabled access. There are also plans for a new telescopic roof that will allow the pool to open up on wet days and possibly throughout the winter.

Mr Stubbs said: "Now we can go back to people and say we have had this and so what are you going to contribute?"

The success of the pool is also vital to the community and it is one of the few tourist attractions in Shap it was also voted the most wanted thing in the village in the Vital Village survey.

Only last week a 76-year-old woman raised £280 for the pool fund by swimming 100 lengths. For more information on the swimming pool and the renovation plans visit www.shapswimmingpool.org.uk.