The weather was cool but the welcome was as warm as the water when Petersfield’s Open Air Swimming Pool reopened for the summer.

The covers have come off at the ‘Jewel in the Crown of Petersfield’ with Sara Thompson being the first through the gates on Saturday morning (April 27).

Dozens of hardy swimmers defied the dismal weather with more than 50 taking to its heated waters. Manager Tom Callingham was thrilled with the response and is excited about the months ahead with a bumper programme of special events and improvements planned.

He said: “The pool was full for the first swim of the day and the lanes were full, even if the weather wasn’t great.

“We think it’s looking good and we’ve done quite a bit of work over the winter. Not only have we refurbished the loos and the changing cubicles but we’re also repaired a section of leaking roof, too.”

The boiler was turned on a fortnight before Saturday’s reopening with the water temperature gradually rising to a toasty 26c. In additional to the usual public sessions a host of special evening and late-night events are planned for the months ahead with naked, twilight and moonlight swims all on the programme.

While the pool is looking great, there’s still some debate about the future of the paddling pool as it remains out of use with trustees undecided on its future.

Mr Callingham added: “We’ve got options and but we need to decide which is best for the pool.”