Disappointed swimmers hoping to take a break from the sweltering heat with a cooling dip in Ilkley’s outdoor pool were disappointed yesterday when they arrived to find it closed.

On one of the hottest days of the year, essential maintenance work forced the Bradford Council-run Lido to shut to swimmers.

Normally open between noon and 7.30pm on weekdays and 10am to 5.30pm on weekends, the Grade II listed site was being worked on by engineers, who had been called to fix a faulty pump.

A spokesman for Bradford Council said the water needed to be constantly filtered and it was essential to close the pool to swimmers while the work was carried out. It was anticipated the work would take no longer than four hours and the Lido would open as normal today.

The indoor pool at the complex in Denton Road was unaffected.

Bradford Council is working with the Friends of Ilkley Lido this year and invested in new outdoor showers and new filters before the opening of the lido complex for the summer season on May 25.

The Lido, which was built in 1935, attracts more than 140,000 people each year. During the school summer holiday there will be extended opening hours from 10am to 7.30pm each day.

For more information, visit bradford.gov.uk