Staff rallied round to make sure six children's birthday parties went ahead after a health scare forced the closure of a sports centre.

Employees at Kidlington and Gosford Sports Centre also called thousands of centre members after the potentially deadly Legionella bacteria was found in the hot water supply on Friday.

They were determined not to disappoint children whose birthday parties in the sports hall had been booked in advance and arranged for some parties to go ahead in the hall of neighbouring Gosford Hill School, while others were switched to Bicester & Ploughley Sports Centre.

On Saturday, four sports centre staff spent three hours carrying play equipment across the car park to the school for the parties.

Duty manager Ryan Pickering said it was hoped the centre would be open again on Thursday. He added: "We rang everybody to inform them that the centre would not be open. There are 3,000 members."

He said he was pleased to have saved the birthday parties. He said: "We rang the families and offered them alternatives.

"The children came out with their party bags, happy, skipping and having fun.

"We would like to say thanks to the school for allowing us to use their facilities at the last minute."

A handwritten sign at the centre's entrance said: "Due to unforeseen problems with our hot water supply, regrettably the centre has had to close until further notice."

One potential user who had not heard the news was Marston resident David Barrett, and his 10-year-old son Anthony. They had come along for the centre's mega-bounce session - but were turned away. Mr Barrett said: "I was told there was no water there."

Cherwell District Council said the risk to members of the public was low, but it had closed the Oxford Road centre as a precaution.