A POPULAR swimming pool has had to be closed at short notice after a customer was ill in the pool.

Darlington’s Dolphin Centre swimming pool will be closed on Friday, the council said.

A statement on the local authority’s website said it was due to a “customer being unwell in the pool”.

The statement added: “It is paramount we adhere to industry guidelines to ensure the safety of all bathers. The pool will reopen on Saturday 29 July at 8am.

“Please note swimming lessons will not be affected in the training pool facility. Apologies for any inconvenience.”

One swimmer, a regular user of the pool, said: “You can only assume whoever it was has had an unfortunate accident and this closure is for some kind of deep clean.

“I guess from the council’s point of view it is better to be safe than sorry.”