PARENTS and toddlers staged a protest at Alum Chine against plans to close the children's paddling pool.

Around 20 parents and dozens of youngsters packed out the paddling pool site, waving banners and placards and urging people to sign their petitions, with a similar protest being held the week before.

Under the council's plans the paddling pool will be closed after this summer and a replacement play water feature built somewhere in the Alum Chine vicinity.

The proposals will be funded by 30 new super beach huts, which will be available on long-term leases.

Leisure officers insist the plans will improve Alum Chine for residents and visitors but many parents are unconvinced. They claim toddlers will have nowhere to play and the beach huts will result in the loss of precious open space.

One of the mothers, Helen Williams, who lives in Alum Chine, said: "The feeling amongst parents is that this is a space that we do not want to lose.

"We are worried that the water play feature is not going to be a direct replacement for the paddling pool. The pool is such a nice, segregated area and it is used by so many people, it would be awful to lose it."

And Vicky Moss, of Poole, said families living in homes without gardens relied on the paddling pool and surrounding play space.

"The idea of a water play feature would be great for older children, but not at the expense of space in the park which is most popular and the only large park within a mile or so of the area.

"I have spoken to families from Scandanavia and Australia whilst doing the petition, and they are astounded at how few parks there are for children in Bournemouth and Poole, compared to their countries. The idea of taking away their play space is ludicrous."

Leisure services' business development officer Chris Saunders said: "We understand people's concerns about the closure of the paddling pool. However, the pool is in very poor repair and desperately needs to be replaced. We are confident that a more modern facility will provide an interactive and fun attraction for families to visit for years to come."