South Norwood residents got their swimming gear on and headed down to Portland Road - to protest about yet another delay to the re-opening of their local pool.

Community group People for Portland Road (PPR) staged a protest over the opening of the pool being pushed back to autumn.

The pool - which the council chose to refurbish rather than rebuild - was due to open this spring. Delays have followed a spate of vandalism which will cost taxpayers half a million pounds.

PPR secretary Christina Peskett said: "We were promised the cancellation of plans for a proper leisure centre meant we would have a pool in the spring. Instead, the people of South Norwood have been let down again.

"Now there will be no swimming facilities over the summer holidays and by the time the pool is ready we could have had a brand new, modern centre."