Swimmers, skaters and fitness fanatics are all in line to pay inflation-busting increases as part of a shake-up of leisure charges in Oxford.

The strapped-for-cash city council is looking at leisure users in a bid to recoup more than £160,000 over three years by increasing charges across-the-board by five per cent.

Under the proposed pricing structure, the cost of a casual swim would jump from £3.40 to £3.57 while use of the sauna or steam room facilities would leap from £4.40 to £4.62.

The increases would apply to all city council-run facilities, including leisure centres, the ice rink in Oxpens and the Hinksey Park outdoor swimming pool.

Slice cards - the city council's leisure season ticket - would also be subject to a five per cent rise if the plans are ratified as part of the annual budget-setting process next year.

There were no price rises affecting leisure last year.

Leisure users at the Ferry Sports Centre in Summertown had mixed feelings about the plans.

John Keltner, 40, a physician at the John Radcliffe Hospital, said: "A five per cent rise seems a bit steep.

"Going to the gym is vital and the city council should be making it cheaper rather than more expensive.

"Exercise is very important - especially during the winter months."

But Eynsham mother-of-one Kate Bustin, 31, said: "I am not too bothered because it's cheaper here than other places and it's warmer, too.

"I would still come if they increased the charges."

The Town Hall is in the midst of a financial crisis and needs to recoup more than £5m from next year's budget.

A series of controversial ideas to help the hard-up authority save money has already been published - including lowering the temperature of water at swimming pools, cutting back the number of hanging baskets and floral displays, charging for the use of public toilets and increasing parking charges.

There is also a proposal to increase the cost of being buried.

Labour group leader Bob Price, chairman of the authority's finance scrutiny committee, said: "What this (increase) will do is make it more difficult for people to use leisure centres - and that starts to go against the general principle of making facilities available for everyone.

"Above-inflation increases will hit the average user and that is bound to have an affect on usage."

A city council spokesman said last night: "The council is at an early stage of considering options.

"No decisions will be taken until February next year when the budget is finalised."