The future of one of Birmingham's most historic swimming pools has been secured for three years with more than £1 million worth of investment to be ploughed in.

City council cabinet chiefs today rubber-stamped a move for Moseley Road Baths in Balsall Heath to be formally transferred over to a community group from April 3.

The group, called the Moseley Road Baths Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), declared it has already started repairs on the Grade II listed building which is more than 100 years old.

A grant worth £659,000 has been awarded by Historic England to repair the pool roof whilst the city council has pledged £100,000 to help with the work.

The council has also committed to spending £100,000 to maintain the baths over the next three years, while further sums of £300,000 from the National Trust and £100,000 from the World Monuments Fund have been secured.

Adding to the pot is the £26,495 raised by community last year to recruit lifeguards and swim leaders.

The baths were originally due to close in April 2017 only for the council to give them a 12-month reprieve.

Karen Leach, chair of the Moseley Road Baths CIO, said: "We are thrilled with the outcome - it is all we could have hoped for and more.

"We will maintain swimming at these beautiful baths and a process has been started to repair and restore the building."

Council leader Ian Ward added: "I know how much Moseley Road Baths mean to the community and the campaigners deserve a great deal of credit for their dedication over a number of years.

"So I'm absolutely delighted that we've been able to take these important steps to protect and preserve such a significant building, ensuring that it is not only a part of Birmingham's history, but a part of our present and future too."

The baths were built to encourage Balsall Heath to join the Corporation of Birmingham in 1907. They are the only Grade II listed baths that predate the First World War which are still open for swimming.

But they have fallen into disrepair and were declared 'at risk' by Historic England several years ago.

Veryan Heal, planning director West Midlands at Historic England, said: "Moseley Road Baths are nationally important as well as being an irreplaceable part of Birmingham's heritage.

"The Gala Pool roof will be repaired and we hope that when the work is complete, this truly beautiful building will be available for public use.

"Moseley Road Baths has been one of Historic England's top Heritage at Risk priorities for some years, and I am delighted at the part we are playing to save it for generations to come."

Attention will soon turn to sustaining the baths long-term with the total cost of restoring the building estimated to be in the region of £30m.

The council has stated it wants the baths to be a 'star player' when the city hosts the 2022 Commonwealth Games .