SWIMMERS in Galashiels have faced a high and dry start to the new year.

The town's pool was closed due to mechanical problems on Monday, December 31.

And despite repairs being carried out during the planned holiday closure staff were unable to open the doors again on Thursday or Friday.

A spokeswoman for operators Live Borders said: "Following improvement yesterday (Thursday), we are hopeful of getting the temperature up to suitable level and reopening over the weekend.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this closure may have caused."

This latest closure comes just days after Selkirk Swimming Pool was closed for a week in the run up to Christmas for similar technical problems.

We reported last month how during 2017/18 attendances at swimming pools, gyms and other sports facilities across the region had fallen year-on-year in 2017/18 by more than 50,000.