HUNDREDS of people joined a campaign to keep a popular swimming pool open and present a petition calling for the council to "Save Our Baths".

More than 200 people gathered at Haslingden Swimming Pool to present a petition to Rossendale Council in a bid to save the facilities in East Bank Avenue, which include a 25 yard pool as well as sauna and steam room and sunbeds.

The petition contained 3,557 signatures and was handed to Coun Lawrence Forshaw, chairman of the authority's leisure committee.

It follows on from a successful attempt to rally public support in favour of the pool staying open. It was threatened with closure in the wake of the Audit Commission report which branded Rossendale as the worst council in the country.

The authority is also considering the future of Rawtenstall's Astoria hall in a bid to cut budgets.

The petition, which went round local schools, shops and churches, as well as attracting 1,680 signatures from people using the pool, was handed over by campaign group members George Garlick and Hazel Hammond.

Mrs Hammond, of Powys Close, Haslingden, then thanked the crowd and the many local councillors present for attending, and called on the council to protect the public service that the baths offered.

The petitioners will also put a submission to Rossendale Council meeting tonight outlining their views.

Mr Garlick said: "I was very pleased that lots of people of all ages came but my breath was completely taken away by the number of people who signed the petition. We all know the council is in a difficult position at the moment but a hasty decision to close the baths would please no-one -- certainly not residents, and not even the Audit Commission, which calls for a leisure strategy to be in place before any review."