Dogs take a dip at historic lido for fundraiser

A historic lido in East Sussex has hosted what is thought to be one of the biggest canine swimming events in the UK.

Annual "Dogtember" sessions have been held over four weekends at Saltdean Lido in Brighton in September and October.

The final swims, where dogs were able to join their owners at the open-air pool, took place on Sunday morning.

The event helps fundraise for the 1930s Art Deco venue, which reopened to the public in June.

Sessions in the heated pool are limited to 50 dogs and 100 humans.

The Dogtember event first took place in 2017, with an estimated £250,000 raised since from entrance fees.

Saltdean Lido was built between 1937 and 1938, but the Art Deco structure became derelict after being used as a water tank by the National Fire Service during World War Two.

Restored by Brighton Council and reopened in 1964, its survival was threatened again in 2010, when the then-leaseholder wanted to redevelop the site.

The lido was saved by a community campaign, leading to the founding of the Saltdean Lido CIC.

New works to restore the venue, which is the UK's only grade II* listed coastal lido, were completed in July.

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