MORE than 150 people turned out at 8am on a cold November morning to support the campaign to Save Bude Sea Pool.

The meeting was called to show journalists the strength of local opposition to Cornwall Council's plans to withdraw funding from the pool.

"Bude Sea Pool is a historic local landmark," said Bude Councillor Nathan Bale, who organised the event. "But it is also a vital resource for the town today, enjoyed by visitors from across Britain and all over the world.

"We saw from the turnout today that the Sea Pool is used by local children, people learning to dive, canoeists and the surf life saving clubs amongst others.

"It's a vital half-way house between using an indoor swimming pool and the sea itself.

"Cornwall Council is currently planning to cut the Sea Pool's £40,000 per year subsidy as part of their emergency budget.

"Without this subsidy, the pool will close. Although Cornwall Council claims that they are looking to find a local group willing to take on the management and costs of the Sea Pool, so far no individual or group has come forward."

A campaign on the social network site, Facebook, 'Save Bude Sea Pool' has also been started by Cllr Bale and at the time of writing, it had gained 2,300 supporters in two days.

A public meeting of STOP (Save the Old Pool) is to be held at the Parkhouse Centre this Sunday (November 21) at 2.30pm in the Ivor Potter Hall.

Cllr Bale said: "With less than 24 hrs notice we had 150 people at Bude Sea Pool at 8am. For this meeting I would expect double that.

"It is very important that the public has a chance to talk with key Cornwall Councillors and officers regarding the future of its historic pool. All Cornwall Councillors and key officers have been invited."

He continued: "We are holding this meeting on a Sunday to give as many people as possible the chance to come along and have their say. I just hope that the politicians who are threatening the Sea Pool will be brave enough to face the people their decisions are affecting."