More than 200 people attended a 'crisis meeting' to discuss the future of the Flamingo Pool in Axminster last night.

The Guildhall was packed for the meeting, with more attending via video conferencing app Zoom, after the Flamingo Pool called on the support of the community amid rising running costs.

They were told that urgent funding needed to be raised or the pool could be closed in three years' time, the building then reverting to the landlords - Devon County Council - which trustees said would also struggle to find the funds to run it.

The Flamingo Pool, which was built in 1998 following a huge fundraising effort from the local community, has been run as a charity ever since, unlike many other swimming facilities in the area which are council-run.

As well as a 25-metre swimming pool, it houses the only publicly accessible hydrotherapy pool in the South West, which some have described as a "life line".

The pool has faced a few difficulties over is 24 year history but the energy crisis has seen its gas and electricity bills rise by £100,000 this year.

Combined with the ageing boilers, this has prompted the trustees to launch the Jubilee Project, a 15-month fundraising project to tie in with Flamingo's 25th anniversary in 2023.

The project is aiming to raise £250,000 through local fundraising and grant applications to enable the installation of renewable and sustainable energy sources and improvements to the efficiency and existing plant and buildings, so that the pool can be run efficiently, economically and with less pollution to the environment.

Additional monies will be used to upgrade facilities such as changing rooms, but those attending the meeting said there was currently no point spending money on refurbishments such as these if the pool was to close in three years.

At the meeting many people pledged their support and suggested fundraising ideas.

The trustees are now looking for new and younger volunteers, and in particular those with knowledge of applying for grant funding, legal knowledge, experience in project management, fundraising, publicity and builders and contractors.

Anyone who wishes to volunteer or share ideas to help the future of the Flamingo Pool can email [email protected] or attended the annual general meeting in the upstairs room at the pool from 6pm on Wednesday, September 28.

The issue is also set to be discussed at the next Axminster Town Council meeting on Monday, September 26 from 7pm in the Guildhall.