A £1.58M investment in Oxford City Council's sports and leisure centres has been approved.

Labour executive board members on July 8 agreed the three-year spending programme, which will begin in April next year.

The programme will involve work at the Ferry Sports Centre in Marston Road, Hinksey Pool in Abingdon Road, Oxford Ice Rink, Temple Cowley Pool, Blackbird Leys Pool, and Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre.

Once the repairs are completed, a further £2.5m will be spent on other facilities, including new gymnasiums.

Peter Johnson, executive member for leisure, said the council could not rule out working with external organisations in the future, a proposal suggested by the previous Liberal Democrat-Green administration.

But he added: "Nothing is ruled out for the future, but we have to move forward with this programme of repairs or there's a very real risk of centres closing."

Board member Maureen Christian was pleased that the Northway Sports Centre in Marston, last year earmarked for closure, would stay open, at least until April.

The board agreed to pay £8,700 to keep it open.