The organisers of Purley Swimathon are searching for a new venue despite a council u-turn on shutting the pool that has hosted it for 26 years.

Purley Rotary Club expects to be forced to relocate the popular fundraising event from next year as the threat of closure looms over Purley pool.

The annual swimathon has been held the pool, in Purley Leisure Centre, since 1989.

Croydon Council last month scrapped plans to close the pool in April in the face of widespread opposition, but the reprieve is only likely to be temporary.

Tony Farrell, president of the Rotary Club, said he expected this year's swimathon, on February 28 and March 5, to be the last at Purley pool.

He said: "It is not a facility we want to lose, but we are being forced now to look at other pools for 2016 because the writing is on the wall with Purley pool.

"We have got to have Plan B in the pocket because I organise the swimathon and my work starts in September prior to the February. We have to put all the documentation together with the venue on it and the times and dates agreed.

"It's not something we can leave to the last minute. By August, September, we need to know for definite whether Purley pool is closing or not."

The Rotary Club has approached both Waddon Leisure Centre and Trinity School about potentially hosting next year's swimathon.

Waddon is the more likely venue, although Mr Farrell expressed concern about the shortage of car parking space and said the plan could rely on Morrison's supermarket agreeing to open up its car park to swimmers.

Council leader Tony Newman said he could not predict whether Purley pool would still be open next year but "emphatically" promised to help find Purley Swimathon a new home if necessary.

He said: "We genuinely don't know because of the assessment that has got to be done, but the main thing is that the swimathon is taking place this year and it is already looks like it's being planned for next year.

"I know discussions are already place about using Waddon but that's not to say it won't one day perhaps be back in Purley in a new pool.

Forty-two teams have signed up for this year's swimathon to raise money for their chosen causes as well as the club's three selected charities, which this year are Purley and Coulsdon Clubs for the Elderly, South East Cancer Help Centre and Purley Food Hub.

The swimathon has raised more than £442,000 since it started.