OUTDOOR swimming pools across the North-East and North Yorkshire have confirmed their plans to reopen as restrictions are eased.

From March 29, restrictions on certain outdoor facilities including pools are set to be eased as the 'Stay Home' message becomes 'Stay Local.'

In the region, leisure centre and pool owners have already began preparing their reopening plans with some limiting the number of people permitted.

Although the date has been set, some outdoor pools are not expected to meet the reopening date due to the length of time needed to prepare.

In Northumberland, the Haltwhistle Swimming and Leisure Centre has confirmed it is aiming to reopen its outdoor facilities within the next four weeks.

Confirming plans, the leisure centre said it aimed to open on April 12 "if everything goes to plan."

In County Durham, the Stanhope Open Air Swimming Pool has said it will not reopening until June 2, where it will be restricted to lane swimming only.

In a previous statement, pool trustees said that it takes up to six weeks to prepare, fill and heat the pool safely for reopeing.

As a result, it had previously scrapped plans to reopen for the 2020 Summer season, saying it would "concentrate" on reopening this year instead.

Meanwhile in North Yorkshire, the Helmsley Open Air Pool, at Helmsley near Thirsk, confirmed plans to reopen its pool on June 21. 

A statement said that this was subject to the Government "not moving the goalposts," as restrictions are eased.

The use of outdoor pools depends on whether the Prime Minister Boris Johnson's roadmap out of national lockdown restrictions continues as planned on March 29.

If restrictions are eased, new 'Stay Local' rules will apply and will mean people will be able to mix with those from another household in any outdoor space.

SEE MORE: The rules of meeting people that you'll need to know on March 29

Currently there has been no suggestion from the Prime Minister that the roadmap out of lockdown restrictions has been affected.