THREE paddling pools have been closed while the authority that operates them tries to arrange staff to work at them.

Harrogate Borough Council said the closure of the pools in the Valley Gardens, Harrogate, Bebra Gardens, Knaresborough, and Borage Green, Ripon, is temporary.

The move follows guidance on health and safety issues, which have led to renewed risk assessments.

They have led to the authority agreeing that the safety framework for paddling pools must include them being staffed when they are open to the public.

Councillor Pat Jones, cabinet member for leisure and amenities, said: "Although our paddling pools are tested twice daily for chlorine level and drained down and cleaned once a week, we are now having to consider having someone on site during the day to ensure that there is no risk to the users."

"We have contacted other councils and those that have retained their paddling pools tell us that they have staff cover on site all of the time the pools are available for public use.

"Outside of this time, they are drained.

"This fits in with our interpretation of the guidance."

She said they were looking at how much it would cost the council to have staff on site and to drain and refill the pools on a daily basis - and hoped to re-open the pools for the summer holidays.