A CHILDREN’S paddling pool has been forced to close as families flock to the coast to enjoy the last of the summer sunshine.

The public pool in Kings Road, Brighton, has closed its doors as repairs are carried out to fix damage on the paddling pool’s floor.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “We are working with contractors to resolve this issue.”

It is not clear when the paddling pool will reopen to the public.

In a statement, Freedom Leisure, which manages the site, said: "Unfortunately due to damage to the flooring we have had to close Kings Road paddling pool.

"We apologise for any inconvenience, all of the other paddling pools (Hove Lagoon, Saunders Park and The Level) are in action and ready for the bank holiday weekend."

The latest issue comes just days after it reopened following repairs to the pool's rubber crumb surface. The pool was also forced to close earlier this year due to a national chlorine shortage as Brighton was struck by a heatwave.

A paddling pool at Hove Lagoon, also run by Freedom Leisure, was also forced to close back in June after some of its flooring began to peel away.

The leisure group also operates the city’s swimming facilities, including the Prince Regent leisure complex and the King Alfred leisure centre in Hove.

One Argus reader criticised the latest closure and said: "The work should have been done and completed before the summer holidays."

Another reader, Dorothy Budgen, was disappointed by the news and said: "These councils don't plan ahead."

Brighton and Hove City Council have been contacted for comment.

People are expected to flock to Brighton to enjoy the last of the summer, with temperatures for the bank holiday tomorrow expected to reach 22C with sunny intervals.