Work has started to prepare the two popular paddling pools in Wolverhampton for opening in time for the late May Bank Holiday.

Engineers will be carrying out general maintenance work at Tettenhall Pool and East Park Pool, including testing pumping mechanisms and sealing any cracks which may have formed in the lining of the pools because of the harsh winter weather.

Next, the pools will be repainted before Wolverhampton City Council and Severn Trent Water begin the time-consuming task of filling each pool with water.

Tettenhall Pool holds 153,978 gallons of water - the equivalent of 1,231,842 pints -and because of its size takes around a week to fill. The smaller East Park Pool can hold approximately 32,995 gallons, or 263,960 pints.

Finally, the water purity needs to be laboratory tested before the pools can be opened to the public, though the city council expects them to be open by Bank Holiday Monday 27 May, 2013, at the latest. The pools will then remain open throughout the summer season.

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: "These two pools always prove very popular and really draw the crowds when the sun comes out, so we're hoping Mother Nature will give people plenty of opportunity to enjoy them this summer!"

  • released: Wednesday 1 May, 2013