MARYPORT residents are being called upon to 'boycott Workington' in protest over the loss of a promised swimming pool.

Former long-time councillor and mayor Peter Kendall attended his first town council meeting as an ordinary citizen on Monday night to protest the Cumberland Council's decision to cancel the swimming pool.

He said Maryport has been 'badly let down' by the Cumberland Council and Allerdale council.

The pool was to be built at the Wave Centre as part of the Government's £3million regeneration grant.

Mr Kendall said the only two projects likely to generate any income were being scrapped.

These were the pool and the Empire Yard plan which would have been used for a covered market and community events.

"Christ Church is to hold the Maritime Museum. The scaffolding is up but I haven't seen a single brick moved," he said.

He said Maryport no longer even has a parish hall, like most of the smallest villages in the county.

"It is time to do something about it. I think we should boycott Workington completely - shops, leisure areas and even churches. Support Maryport instead."

Cumberland council's senior advisor on Maryport regeneration, Jeremy Hewitson, told the town council that inflation had increased of building the swimming pool.

But he said there were also concerns about running costs.

"Swimming pools do not make money," he said. "They need to be in a situation where they can be propped up by other services.

"The Sands Centre, for instance, has a theatre, large gym, food and drink and more."