YOUNGSTERS at a Felixstowe school are appealing to television viewers for a boost towards a £100,000 project to refurbish their disused swimming pool.

YOUNGSTERS at a Felixstowe school are appealing to television viewers for a boost towards a £100,000 project to refurbish their disused swimming pool.

The aim is to turn the six metre by 13m outdoor pool at Colneis Junior into a modern indoor pool complex which can be used by the children and the community.

So far around £30,000 has been raised for the Splashing Out project by parents, current and former pupils, teachers and friends of the school.

A variety of fundraisers have been held and now they are hoping to win a grant from ITV's People's Millions show.

A crew from the programme visited the school in Colneis Road to film the children making their plea for funding and members of the project explaining what they want to do.

The project to refurbish the pool, which has not been used for five years after problems with its lining, was launched two years ago.

Splashing Out spokesman Steve Ransom said: “We are all anxious to see the pool back in use.

“We need to raise approximately £95,000 to complete the project. This will enable us convert the pool from an open-air facility into an enclosed resource, which in turn will mean that the pool can be used on a year-round basis.

“We will also be able to provide new changing facilities, equip the pool with the appropriate safety equipment and to heat the facility in a way that minimises the environmental impact.”

So far money has come from a range of activities including a circus event at the school, a sponsored parachute jump by one of the teachers, and events such as jumble sales.

It is hoped viewers will vote for the swimming pool project when it is pitched against another good cause from the region on Anglia News on November 28.

The People's Millions, which teams up with the Big Lottery Fund, has 90 grants of £80,000 up for grabs.

Mr Ransom said: “We think it is essential that our children grow up being able to swim confidently and well.

“At present, only our year six pupils have access to regular swimming lessons. We want to see this broadened across the whole school.”

“It would also be offered to other primary schools in the Felixstowe area, scouts and guides, and other sections of the community, such as older people who may prefer to use a quieter more private pool than the town's leisure centre.”

n Is your school fundraising? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk