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

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

Normally open between noon and 7.30pm on weekdays and 10am to 5.300pm 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 tomorrow.

The indoor pool at the pool and lido complex in Denton Road, Ilkley, was unaffected and was open as normal.

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

The season kicked off with a Wet and Wild event, organised by FOIL, with attractions including face painting, a climbing wall and picnic.

And on Friday, June 21 the Lido hosted, for the first time, a special early morning swim to celebrate the longest day.

The Lido, which was built in 1935, was recently voted in the top ten open-air pools in the country by The Guardian. It has wonderful far-ranging views across Ilkley Moor and is situated only two minutes from Ilkley town centre.

It has a 20-metre stretch of swallow water that children can splash in while adult swimmers can spend their time peacefully completing a few lengths at the other end of the lagoon-shaped pool.

Each year the venue attracts more than 140,000 people.

During the school summer holiday (Monday, July 22 until Sunday, September 8) there will be extended opening hours from 10am to 7.30pm each day.

For more information about the opening hours and events at the Lido visit: bradford.gov.uk