CARNFORTH swimming pool's transfer to a community-run charity has been given the seal of approval by Lancashire County Council's Cabinet.

The 1970s pool on the Carnforth High School site at Kellet Road has been closed since New Year's Eve. Volunteers of Carnforth Community Swimming Pool Ltd are hoping to reopen it later this month.

Like the swimming pool in Hornby village, Carnforth pool had previously been leased to Lancaster City Council. In a bid to save money, the city council decided to stop running the pools last year and had them back to the county council.

As Lancashire County Council does not deliver leisure services, it approached the schools where the pools are located along with local councillors and community groups to discuss a transfer of ownership.

Cllr Phillippa Williamson, county councillor for Lancaster Rural North, said: "Since agreeing in principle to transfer Carnforth pool to the charitable company which has been set up by the local partnership, we've been working closely with them to ensure their plans are robust and sustainable. I'm pleased we've now reached the stage where the council's cabinet has made a final decision to go ahead with the asset transfer.

"We'll now be working with them to finalise the lease and complete the transfer as soon as possible."

A one-off sum of £27,000 is to be paid to the pool's new owners to help cover costs .

Hornby's pool looks set to be transferred to the Lune Valley Community Society once a business case has been finalised.