IT’S the end of a successful summer season for Buckfastleigh Open Air Pool, but the covers aren’t staying on for long.

Unheated adult lane swimming is running every Saturday morning until Christmas. All swims include a free hot drink and cake. And Pauline Barker, British ice swimming champion, will be giving a talk tomorrow on swimming outdoors through the winter.

There’s also a Tropical Christmas swim on Boxing Day and the pool’s annual Ice Gala in February.

A spokesman for the pool said: ‘Our summer season is now over and it’s been a fantastic second season as a community-run pool.

‘We’ve welcomed more than 8,500 swimmers at the pool over the summer and extended our season for a month. We’ve established some new activities at the pool this year.

‘Our aquafit sessions were really popular, as were our late night swimming events.

‘We’ve run scuba diving lessons and sessions on marine safety.

‘We’d like to say a big thank you to our volunteers who have done such a wonderful job on reception. We couldn’t do it without you.’

The pool will reopen for warm water swimming next May for its 130th anniversary year.

The pool is run by a volunteer group which is looking for more help with fundraising, and a treasurer.

For more information, email bfl.pool@yahoo. co.uk.