The Kenilworth Lido Campaign group will mark the end of 125 years of outdoor swimming in Kenilworth this weekend with a procession from Talisman Square to Abbey Fields.

Members will set off from Kenilworth Books at 10am on Saturday (December 18) down to the pool, which closes tomorrow before its demolition, to pay their last respects.

And the group is urging "any member of the public who feel that the outdoor pool should be retained for the benefit of all residents within Kenilworth and the wider district to join them this Saturday."

Kenilworth Lido Campaign group also launched its 'Christmas Wish for Outdoor Swimming' initiative at the Christmas Market Fair in Talisman Square on Saturday 11 December.

Shoppers were invited to write down their thoughts as to why it is important to keep a safe outdoor swimming facility in Kenilworth on festive themed postcards, which will be sent to Cllr Liam Bartlett (Warwick District Council portfolio holder for culture, tourism and leisure) to highlight the strength of feeling on this issue.

A spokesperson for the campaign group said: "From the moment the stall opened there was a steady stream of visitors throughout the morning all keen to put their thoughts in writing.

"We were absolutely delighted with the response from the public particularly as on this day one of our nearest outdoor pools at Droitwich was open for business and oversubscribed, yet Kenilworth's pool remains closed and woefully neglected."

The spokesperson added that MP for Kenilworth and Southam Jeremy Wright visited the stall whilst only one local councillor spoke to the group.

Residents' comments mainly related to the health and tourism benefits that such a facility should bring and disbelief that WDC is prepared to sacrifice "what should be one of the town's top two attractions".

One family wrote of the sensory benefits that swimming outdoors brought to their very young son who has autism and their great disappointment that this local facility is likely to be demolished in the new year.