More than 950 dogs attend Saltdean Lido swimming event

Saltdean Lido hosts hundreds of people with their dogs every September at the end of its swimming season.

The lido has five different sessions a day during the weekends of September, where dogs can splash around in the 80-year-old pool.

It is the most popular event on the calendar for Saltdean Lido, providing vital funds for the restoration of the 1938 art deco building which is currently being restored.

One happy dog last weekend (Image: Newsquest)

Julie Shepherd, who organises the event each year, said: “The dogs are our biggest fundraising event of the year, it’s always very busy. We had more than 950 dogs last weekend.

“They come from all over the place, it’s amazing.

“I bumped into two people waiting outside who came with their hairy Newfoundlands, they got the 5am ferry from the Isle of Wight to come.

“People come from Manchester, Sheffield, Cardiff, Bristol and Cambridge for the events.

Dogs and owners are welcome to swim (Image: Newsquest)

“This is the sixth year we have done it, we do it at the end of the human season.”

It costs £8 for dogs, plus £8 if you want to swim with them, or £3 if you are spectating.

Sessions are one and a half hours.

There are different sessions people can choose for large and small dogs.

Julie added: “The feedback is great, we say to people ‘see you next year’ when they leave and they tell us they’re coming back next weekend. That happens quite a lot.

Going for a dive (Image: Newsquest)

“We recently had a group of golden retriever owners come along, which was 160 golden retrievers all in one session.”

Places are available for the next two weekends between 9am and 5pm.

This coming weekend has a large dog only session at 3pm on Saturday and a small dog only session on Sunday at 3pm.

For more information, visit the Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company Facebook page.