A town's lido has been given a new look ahead of the winter season.

Beccles Lido is preparing to open for the winter with a Halloween Winter Swim Spook-tacular on October 31 after undergoing £130,000 worth of refurbishments. 

The improvements included a new all-weather canopy to replace the retractable awning over the patio and upgraded shower facilities.

The new canopy was funded by £102,519 grant from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund.

It is now a solid structure complete with lighting, solar panels and infrared heaters for the winter months. 

The long awaited new all-weather canopy The long awaited new all-weather canopy (Image: Beccles Lido) The 12-year-old retractable awning has been replaced by the canopyThe former 12-year-old retractable awning (Image: Newsquest)

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Matt Day, general manager, said: “The new canopy will provide customers with shade in sunny weather and keep them dry during wet weather.

"The old awning was temperamental and couldn’t be relied on to offer shade or shelter any more.

"We also now have the added benefit of more lighting and the addition of heaters, which will keep our customers warm after their cold-water swims.”

Once fully operational, the solar panels on the canopy will see the lido generating between 60pc and 70pc of its own electricity. 

READ MORE: Beccles Lido to make improvements before summer season

The solar panels ready for installation on the canopyThe solar panels ready for installation on the canopy (Image: Beccles Lido)

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Shaun Crowley, managing director, said: “Since the start of the energy crisis, our annual utilities bill has increased from £40,000 to around £175,000, so the savings from producing electricity ourselves will be a massive help in reducing this significant cost”.

The new showers were funded by a £30,000 legacy donation from the estate of the late Peter Hinsley.

There will now be five showers, in the re-profiled and tiled area, and in the plant room the water heating infrastructure needed for the showers has been upgraded to meet the higher demand.

The funding also provided new picnic benches and sun loungers in the summer.

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Shaun Crowley (left) is presented with the £30,000 chequeShaun Crowley (left) is presented with the £30,000 cheque (Image: Beccles Lido)The newly-tiled shower area also included in the refurbishmentThe newly-tiled shower area also included in the refurbishment (Image: Beccles Lido)

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The Halloween "Spook-tacular" swim will start at 6pm on October 31 and customers are encouraged to dress up for the occasion.

Mr Day said: "We will also be running a best-dressed competition – come dressed up for Halloween and the best costumes will win free swims.”

National champion and British Olympic Games swimmer, Neil McKechnie, who took part in the swimming gala at the opening of Beccles Lido in 1959, has a word with 16-year-old Daphne Wilson who had just been elected Beccles Regatta Queen.National champion and British Olympic Games swimmer, Neil McKechnie, who took part in the swimming gala at the opening of Beccles Lido in 1959, has a word with 16-year-old Daphne Wilson who had just been elected Beccles Regatta Queen. (Image: Newsquest Archive) People enjoying the Beccles Lido in June 1987People enjoying the Beccles Lido in June 1987 (Image: Newsquest Archive)

Afterwards, the lido will be open weekly on Thursdays 6pm to 7.50pm, Fridays 7am to 10:50am and 6pm to 7.50pm, and Saturdays 8am to 10.50am.