Babies younger than six months have been banned from using Oxford's council-run swimming pools after a major health scare that left 28 people feeling ill.

Ten of them were known to have used Temple Cowley pools shortly before suffering from cryptosporidiosis - a micro-organism that causes gastric infections - and the pool was shut after higher than normal levels of bacteria were found.

The health authority advised the council that babies under six months should not be encouraged to swim. The recommendation was accepted by Oxford City Council's leisure services committee yesterday. Councillors also agreed that the pools should close immediately for 12 hours if faecal contamination was found.

The decision to raise the minimum age of babies using the pool from three to six months caused some concern.

Cllr Bob Hoyle said: "This has caused anxiety in the area. The earlier children are taught to swim, the more naturally they build confidence."

Cllr Tony Stockford responded: "It seems ridiculous for us to say, 'We know best' if the health authority has made these recommend- ations." Most of his colleagues agreed and the recommendation was carried by eight votes to two. The decision to agree to the 12-hour closure was agreed unanimously.

But Cllr Elise Benjamin called for changes to the way councillors are told about public interest issues after saying that she first knew of the health scare after reading about it in the Oxford Mail.

Story date: Tuesday 30 November

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