Supporters of Teignmouth Lido formed a giant heart shape on the beach to show their backing for the community group bidding to take over the lido’s running.

Teignbridge District Council is about to consider all the bids for the Lido and make a decision in December.

The site is up for sale on the open market, and could be redeveloped if Teignmouth Lido Community Trust’s bid isn’t chosen.

But Save the Lido campaigners came out in force on Sunday, August 31 to make their feelings known.

Paul Burgess of the Teignmouth Lido Community Trust said: “One thing was clear from the ages of the people there – we had three-year-olds right up to 97 and 98-year-olds.

“The point we want to make is that councillors have now got an opportunity to do something for everybody in Teignbridge, and leave a lasting legacy.

“Our research shows that 99.3 per cent of locals want the pool to remain open with a community group running it.

“We’re asking everyone to email their local councillor and say ‘look, this is what we need to happen, please keep it open’.

“I think if they just sell it off to a private developer, people will just be absolutely flabbergasted and disgusted.”

The Trust’s bid is supported by Teignmouth Beach Surf Lifesaving Club, the Friends of the River Teign and local MP Martin Wrigley, who attended the beach gathering.

The campaign has also been buoyed up by strong visitor numbers throughout the summer - between 13 and 14 thousand, which is up by 20 per cent on last year.

And Paul Burgess is confident that the Trust ‘s plans for running the Lido would boost those numbers to around 25,000 .

Opening times are currently set by Teignbridge Leisure which runs the Lido for the council, but the Trust would extend the season to six months and possibly also through November and December.