A TINY paddling pool only three inches deep, which has to be manned by two fully-trained lifeguards, is costing a North-East council about £7,000 a year.

The open-air pool, at Scar Top, Barnard Castle - which can hold up to eight toddlers - also has to be emptied every day under new Government guidelines.

The lifeguards usually look after the deeper waters at Teesdale Sports Centre's swimming pool.

They have been drafted in for the summer holidays to supervise toddlers taking having a splash.

And although the pool is only being used in the height of the summer season, standing empty for most of the year, it is still costing taxpayers between £6,000 and £8,000 a year, a Teesdale councillor has estimated.

John Watson said: "It seems a rather draconian approach given the shallow water, but it is to comply with the latest round of Health and Safety Executive regulations. It is rather extreme - they are having to do the same thing with the children's paddling pool at the leisure centre, which is costing £11,000 this year and will cost £21,000 a year from now on.

"We could end up with the situation where the paddling pool at Scar Top will have to close, which would be a terrible shame.

"It has to be emptied and refilled every day and there is the problem of cleaning it because youths have been throwing broken glass in there at night."

Fellow independent councillor Newton Wood welcomed the lifeguard scheme.

He said: "It seems like overkill with two lifeguards, but children do go down there unattended and if they did fall in the pool or knock their heads there would be a problem.

"Children can drown in as little as two inches of water."

Tony Seaman, Teesdale District Council's director of development services, could not be contacted for a comment last night.