A COMMUNITY-spirited group are overjoyed after the council have decided to take over the costs of a park paddling pool.

Friends of Riverside North Park, a group which started in 2012, have funded the cost of the paddling pool for three years.

Now, Bewdley Town Council accepted a proposal which asked them if they were prepared to take on the cost of the paddling pool following a meeting on January 4.

Back in January 2017, Wyre Forest District Council announced they were to close three park Paddling Pools and offered Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley Town Councils the opportunity to take them on under a three year lease.

Bewdley Town Council opted against this, which prompted the group to acquire charity status and fundraise to maintain the pool.

Over the years, the group have held fundraising events including lantern parades, barn dances and quizzes.

The community group now plan to concentrate their efforts on improving the park in other ways, starting with the play equipment.

Secretary of the group Jenny Chamberlain said: “With so much pressure on charities, voluntary groups and local school PTAs we have been finding it harder and harder to raise funds.

“It has been a real community effort and now it’s time the council took this on.”

Councillor and trustee of the Friends group Calne Edgington-White said: “Without the group’s passion and vision, the pool would have been closed three years ago.”