Urgent and essential repairs will force Hythe Swimming Pool to close for three months, right throughout the summer.

It will shut its doors to the public this Sunday, July 10 while "extensive" and "costly" repair works begin.

The full extent of the work is set to cost £184,000 of tax payers' money.

The closure is taking place over the summer because the work to recover the roof is weather dependent, the council said.

Cllr Jenny Hollingsbee, cabinet member for communities said: “I know that this will be disappointing news for swimmers and other users of the pool.

However we would not make a decision to close the pool unless we had to.

"A 40 year old swimming pool is particularly vulnerable as it goes beyond its normal serviceable life, which is why we are working hard to provide a new swimming pool in Hythe.

"In the meantime, we will reopen the existing pool as soon as the repairs have been completed.”

The liner to the main pool needs to be replaced, which is currently leaking, and the roof needs to be re-covered to sort out a "major failure."

The chlorine storage system is also set to be replaced.

The Hythe Festival swimming gala will still take place on Saturday, July 9.

The pool is scheduled to re-open on Monday, October 3.

All direct debits for membership will be suspended from July and will re-start in October.