Television presenter and scientist Dr Alice Roberts has thrown her support behind a campaign to save a Cornish swimming pool from being closed by a cost-cutting drive.

The Coast and Time Team star is backing a campaign to secure the future of Bude Sea Pool, which is set to lose £30,000 of funding from Cornwall Council.

A decision is due next week, but supporters of the pool want more time to explore alternative ways to pay for lifeguards and vital maintenance and upkeep at the popular pool – which dates from 1930.

The Bristolian anthropologist, who presented a programme on wild swimming for BBC4 last year, said it was important for teaching people how to swim in seawater safely.

"Having made a programme on wild swimming for BBC4 last year, I have been amazed at the response from the public and the importance of wild swimming to our nation," she said.

"However, the north Cornish coast is not always the safest place to swim and so I recognise that this sea pool provides a safe place for adults and, very importantly, children to swim in seawater.

"The benefits of swimming are obvious, and it would be immensely sad if this much-loved pool were to close, without exploring any possibilities of keeping it open, even if that means a paid membership or subscription."

A Facebook group, Save Bude Sea Pool, has almost 4,000 supporters.

Cornwall Council said it appreciated the concerns of residents but "significant financial challenges facing the authority mean councillors are being forced to consider making reductions to a number of frontline services".