STAFF at Hinksey Pool — Oxford’s only outdoor heated pool — are hoping hot weather will bring in lots of swimmers this summer.

To kick off the season, the city council is holding a free admission open day from 9am to 7pm today.

The pool, off Abingdon Road, is now open seven days a week, from 7.30am during the week and 9am at weekends.

Duty officer James Hopkin said: “It’s lovely to have the pool open again and we are looking forward to a nice warm summer.

“The pool is warm, the water is sparkling and it’s a great place for mums to bring their kids in the summer holidays.

“We have already been quite busy and one of our regulars was in the pool at 9am. It should be busy over the Bank Holiday weekend, especially on our open day.”

Lifeguard Luke Howell, 19, from Risinghurst, Oxford, said he was glad to be back at the pool after working there in 2006.

The former Wheatley Park School pupil added: “I really like working here — it’s nice to be working outdoors in the sunshine.

“There’s a really good atmosphere down here in the summer, a good buzz.”

The pool, together with all city council-run swimming pools, is offering free swimming to all under 17s and over 60s, and is open until the end of September.

City council pools are now run in conjunction with leisure company Fusion.

For more information call 0844 8933 222 or visit oxford.gov.uk/leisure