A popular public pool has been shut down because vandals repeatedly throw glass in the water.

The paddling pool at Brooklands Pleasure Ground, in Lancing, near Worthing, has opened every day of summer for decades.

But it will not now reopen following an announcement by Worthing Borough Council that it could not guarantee the safety of children.

The news has dismayed residents who say the pool was well-used and more suitable for children than the Aquarena pool in Worthing.

Heidi Copeland, 32, of Brook Way, Lancing, said: "It's something used by almost all Lancing residents, practically every day of the summer.

"I went there every day of the summer for about three years and I have never had a problem with glass."

Midwife Mrs Copeland has taken children Zac, four, and Dylan, 18 months, to the pool in the past with husband Paul.

She says the council should have offered to help residents raise money to keep the facility open.

She added: "I'm sure you could get loads of people raising money in Lancing, contributing to it."

But John Thorpe, the council's assistant director of leisure and community services, said: "It's not possible to operate safely.

"Vandals and other people throw glass and obstacles into the water. It's not possible for us to supervise it on a daily basis, so it's not safe to use.

"Another problem is people continuously feed the swans and wildfowl on the lake, which then leads to rats getting into the pool.

"Even if we got someone there all the time, it wouldn't prevent rats getting in."