WORK to restore a Southampton swimming pool got under way in earnest yesterday.

The official launch of efforts to get the Oaklands Pool in Lordshill up and running again saw contractors and pool supporters come together.

Marking the occasion were Southampton City Council's cabinet member for economic development and leisure Cllr Matt Tucker, Coxford councillor Sally Spicer, representatives from contractors Interserve, members of the team behind the project from Southampton City Council and Capita and representatives of the Oaklands Pool Community Group.

Contractors have been on site, at Fairisle Road, for a number of days, but the £1.7m work officially started yesterday aimed at getting the pool open by early 2015.

The council agreed in October last to finance refurbishment of the pool, which will be run by the Oaklands Community Pool group on a 25-year lease.