A diving club is trying to keep the sport alive for future generations of Barnet children by raising millions of pounds for a new deep water pool.

North London Aquatics is trying to raise £3 million to build a new pool at the Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre, Mill Hill, because its current site is due to be demolished next year.

The nearest alternative pools are in either Luton or Stratford, both at least an hour away.

Club chairman Wendy Kravetz fears for the club’s 50 divers if their new pool is not built.

Ms Kravetz said: “It’s our legacy and we want to leave something for the area.

“We have a few people who could become elite divers but when our pool goes people will have to travel hours to go and train.

“A new building is needed for these people and we could have 2,000 to 3,000 people use our pool a week.

“We want to do more community work and support people in the area and this new pool is the only way we can do that.”

To keep the club viable, North London Aquatics plans to offer classes for toddlers, elderly and people with special needs sessions in diving, water therapy and water polo.

It has already been given £500,000 and a tract of land by Barnet Council, is now hoping for a grant of £50,000 from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

The Mayor’s office is offering clubs and charities ¬grants if they can show online support, so the club has invested in a video campaign on YouTube and is hoping to raise £100,000 in pledges on crowdfunding site Space Hive.

With a little over one sixth of the money it needs, Ms Kravetz says the worry is taking its toll on her and the club’s members.

She said: “I have lost a lot of sleep over this.

“We have had hard times before but this is the toughest thing we have been going through.

“It’s heart-breaking when you go to the club and the children ask you if they have raised enough money.

“All of the kids will be losing their pool and there is an awful lot of pressure being put on them, they feel as though they have to save the pool.”