Sports centre staff are stepping up their campaign against the "privatisation" of Oxford's leisure services by hosting a public meeting.

Parliamentary candidates and city councillors have been invited to the meeting at the Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, Pegasus Road, Oxford, at 7pm on Monday, June 4.

But no councillors are expecting to attend.

City strategy and resources committee chairman Corinna Redman said: "The date is unfortunate. A letter was sent to every group leader.

"No councillors can attend because everyone is busy on the doorsteps every evening trying to fight to win the election."

Wage increases and maintenance costs mean sports centres, pools and the ice rink are expected to make a loss of £660,904 this financial year.

The council wants to hand over the job of managing them to private companies or charitable trusts, following a £30,000 investigation by consultants, to make them more efficient.

Opponents fear it will mean staff cuts, higher prices, fewer opening hours and poorer service. Thousands have signed a petition to keep the services council-run.

Martin Gregory, of the public services union Unison, which represents about 750 council staff, said Monday's meeting would open up public debate, which the council has failed to provide for.

He said: "As far as I am aware the council has not organised any public consultation. We believe the public wants to keep services council-run. That is certainly what staff want."

Cllr Redman said it was wrong to talk of privatisation because it was more likely services would go to a charitable or non-profit-making trust.

She said: "Privatisation is the union's word, not ours.

"Many of our major facilities are in need of urgent repair and modernisation. We are reaching a point where without major repair we cannot keep our centres open."