Derbyshire Dales District Council has said residents will be without the facility while extensive work on the main pool takes place.

Steve Sankey, chairman of Matlock and District Swimming Club, said he feared the Lido would suffer the same fate as Sherwood Hall leisure centre.

He added: "My concern is, given the way they dealt with Sherwood Hall what is the risk they are going to close the pool? That would kill the club.

"Last time the pool was closed it nearly bankrupted us."

Mr Sankey said the club also risked losing swimmers to other clubs and falling competition results.

Colin Ingley of Matlock Water Polo Club said the set back could have serious consequences.

He added: "It has put our development back terribly. We are in the business of promoting sports and this sort of thing does not help.

"It is highly upsetting and frustrating for us and we are worrying about people dropping off. We don't want people to lose enthusiasm for the game."

Mr Ingley said it would be difficult to find a replacement pool.

He added: "They told us it would be closed for two weeks. Cynically someone actually said it would be more like two months.

"We have discounted the Lido for this season. The estimate has been wrong before so we are looking elsewhere."

Matlock Mayor Cate Hopkinson said she also had concerns about the Lido after Sherwood Hall closed.

She added: "When Sherwood Hall closed I said I hoped the Lido would be maintained and kept it in a state of repair.

"We will have gone through the whole of the school holidays without the children being able to swim. I think people have not got much faith."

Engineers hope to announce a firm date for the pool's reopening by the end of next week.

The rest of the complex, including the gym and the learner pool, will remain open.

District council director of planning and development services, Dave Brooks, said: "Prior to the current closure over the past two years the main pool at Matlock Lido has had to be closed three times for emergency works: once when flooding damaged the electrics; and twice to remove items from the pool such as glass when a car reversed into the building.

"Despite the age of the building - the pool is 70 years old - the district council is doing all it can to keep the Lido open.

"Over the past two years £34,000 has been spent on planned maintenance and a further £35,000 on necessary repair works.

"We apologise for the inconvenience caused during the current closure and would like to remind users that the Gym and learner pool are open as normal."