A LIDO which fell into disrepair more than 20 years ago has once again become a tourist attraction after undergoing a complete transformation.

The outdoor pool at Grange-over-Sands, which was last open to the public in 1993, has been given an unusual facelift thanks to a pair of local councillors, who have had its hoardings adorned with dozens of blown-up images celebrating both the town and the surrounding Morecambe Bay.

“The lido has been an eyesore and a thorn in the side for all the people of Grange for a long time,” explained Coun Tricia Thomas, mayor of the town, who worked with colleague Coun Joanna Greenway on the project.

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“The building has become very overgrown and it just looked sad.

“As we’ve got the 2020 photography exhibition in town for a month, which is expected to attract people from a long way away, we thought we’d do something with the lido too – already people are fascinated by the pictures.”

Some of the images have been given to the project by Grange’s Photographic Society while some are contemporary images taken by a pair of local snappers.

They depict everything from 19th century cocklers to the Bay Search and Rescue Team’s latest vehicles – and there are even some ‘then and now’ pictures of the lido itself.

The pictures will complement the 2020 Vision exhibition, installed on Grange’s prom until August 29, which is expected to bring around 2,000 visitors. After that the images will remain in place on the lido and it is hoped it will continue attracting further tourists to the town.

“When the photographs were being put up people were already stopping to look at them and commenting on them,” said Coun Thomas. “We hope people will recommend it to friends.”

The Lido was built in 1934 but was closed 21 years ago. Discussions over its future have been taking place since last year but Coun Thomas said it could be two or three years before anything is finalised.