A new £10,000 swimming pool cover has been unveiled at an Oxford swimming pool in a bid to cut energy bills.

And Oxford City Council hopes the move will help shed the city's 'un-green' image.

The pool, in Waynefleet Road, Barton, is the first city council pool to get a cover - similar measures are being considered for other locations.

It is expected to pay for itself within three years and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 30 tonnes a year.

As well as cutting heating bills, pool covers also prevent evaporation and so reduce the need to ventilate pool buildings to prevent condensation.

Last month, a report by the Worldwide Fund for Nature ranked 60 cities in England, Scotland and Wales by their residents' average ecological footprints - and Oxford ranked joint fifth from bottom.

Caroline van Zyl, the council's executive member for a sustainable environment, said: "We are aware that the city has been branded one of the least environmentally friendly cities and has a large carbon footprint. But we, as a council, are determined to play our part in tackling this."

"The council is committed to cutting carbon emissions.

"This is an ideal way to prevent thousands of pounds worth of energy evaporating each year."

Ms van Zyl said the effectiveness of the cover would be closely monitored by the Town Hall's climate change officers before a decision was taken on whether to install similar equipment at other city pools, such as the Ferry pool in Summertown.

The council is also set to pilot less conventional covers for pools where solid covers would prove expensive.

Ms van Zyl said: "We are also looking at testing liquid pool covers for irregular shaped pools like the outdoor pool at Hinksey, which does not lend itself to the use of conventional covers."

The liquid pool cover technology has been developed by a company called Heatsavr.

It involves adding a special liquid to the pool water which forms an insulating layer on the surface that is just one molecule thick.

It does not need to be removed before the pool is used and reforms when the water is still.

Solar heated showers were installed at Hinksey outdoor pool last year.

Ms van Zyl added: "Liquid pool covers are already used by companies, including Butlins and David Lloyd Fitness Clubs, saving thousands of pounds per year in energy costs as well as reducing carbon dioxide emissions."