St Annes Swimming Pool will close later this year after councillors voted through a range of cost cutting measures.

At a five hour budget meeting of Fylde Borough Council yesterday evening, the decision was made to axe the pool, which was the subject of a protest march on Saturday attended by hundreds of people.

A rescue package was agreed for Kirkham Baths, which was also under threat, which will see the pool remain open for at least another year.

A series of amendments designed to save both pools were tabled at the meeting, held at Fylde Rugby Club, but it was resolved that the 20-year-old St Annes pool will close on July 31.

The decision was made to plug a £1M deficit in the council's finances which the authority blames partially on the cost of providing concessionary travel.

The one-year package put in place to save the Kirkham facility from closure came to £129,000 and will see a ten per cent hike in short stay car parking in Lytham and St Annes and a 30 per cent rise in long stay parking.

Admission charges at the pool will also be increased.

The council agreed a 4.9 per cent rise in their portion of the council tax rise for 2008/2009, the maximum it can under Government capping rules.