A PADDLING pool is now open to the public for the summer after being closed for maintenance work.

The paddling pool at Eastrop Park was closed by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to carry out maintenance work in April, just as the weather began to warm up.

The popular water facility was meant to open in the spring, but the council said essential health and safety preparatory work to the pool before opening had identified the need for additional work, including the replacement of the surface of the pool, which had cracked.

READ MORE: Eastrop paddling pool closed for maintenance work

Eastrop paddling pool (Image: BDBC) Asked why the work was not carried out earlier in the year, the council said: “The surface had cracked and tiles lifted over the winter because of the cold weather, therefore it was not an issue we could address until we carried out our checks and preparation work to open the paddling pool and the splash pad in the spring.”

However, the opening of the pool was delayed again because of vandalism.

The borough council has now announced that the paddling pool is open for the summer, along with the splash pad at Chineham Park, in Popley.