FREE swimming in Oxford pools could soon be limited to young swimmers who live within the city.

The city council believes it is now subsidising 'non-Oxford' swimmers to the tune of £38,000 a year. And council legal officers have been asked to investigate whether swimming, and possibly other free services, may be offered exclusively to Oxford residents.

Previously, it was thought that a European Court ruling might result in any Oxford-only policy being legally challenged on the grounds of unfair discrimination.

But with the city anxious to make savings in leisure to help recoup more than £5m in next year's budget, councillors want to revisit the issue.

One option being considered is the idea of introducing an 'Oxford card', that residents would have to show to access free or subsidised services, paid for by Oxford residents. Exeter City Council is one of the councils leading the way, having introduced a leisure card "to give savings and benefits to local people" covering leisure and museum services.

Offering all under-17s free swimming in the council's indoor and outdoor pools will cost the council £375,000 over the three years of the scheme.

Charges of £1.70 were dropped last year at pools in Blackbird Leys, Summertown, Temple Cowley, Barton, Littlemore and Hinksey.

The council said the policy would encourage more children to exercise and learn to swim.