Jeremy Clarkson will be wielding the gavel at an auction of promises in support of Chipping Norton Lido.

The swimming pool announced on social media that the event will take place at the town hall on Friday May 13.

The pool has been run by local people as a charity since 2004 and is reliant upon the support of the public.

Its website states: "This generosity has helped us through the pandemic, but we are recovering from its impact to find we are now faced with exceptionally high and unpredictable price rises beyond our control for gas, electricity and chemicals."

The pool, which opens for the season on Sunday April 17, says they are keeping ticket prices at the same level they were on closing day last year, with an added discount for frequent swimmers, but are not yet in a position to offer season tickets.

READ ALSO: Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper, 23, launches own cider company

In 2020 Mr Clarkson, who lives in Chadlington, praised Chipping Norton lido and said wild swimming was dangerous because Britain’s waters are ‘full of death, disease and parasites that burrow into children’s eyes’.

He said in his Sunday Times column he preferred to enjoy a ‘heated lido’ as opposed to a freezing cold river.

He added: “If I want a swim I won’t go into a pond - I’ll simply pop into Chipping Norton, where there’s a lovely lido.

“It’s heated, so it isn’t the slightest bit refreshing, and it’s full of chlorine so there’s no turds in it.”

The lido has two fully-heated outdoor pools - a 25m swimming pool and a toddlers’ paddling pool, a café and a large, tree-lined lawn.

Writing on social media, the lido said 'lots to be announced' and tickets will be released soon.

Jeremy's column can be found at www.thetimes.co.uk/article/wild-swimming-means-chilblains-and-e-coli