The open air paddling and swimming pools in Wallingford's Riverside Park will reopen on May 30 after a £395,000 facelift.

The work has been done by South Oxfordshire District Council and is the climax of a campaign by Wallingford people.

They rallied round -- and the town council put in £23,000 -- to keep them open when the district council wanted to close them completely because of vandal and flood damage.

Everyone is invited to the formal reopening, which will be on Saturday, July 30, as part of the celebrations marking the granting of Wallingford's Charter.

Cabinet member for leisure, recreation and arts Nigel Moor said: "This project represents the council's first priority for capital investment in its leisure centres.

"I am delighted the pool and changing rooms are opening on time and that the new public lavatories are on track for their planned completion in June."