First there was the barometer, then came the swingometer - and now Oxford City Council has brought in the 'opinionmeter'.

The automated machine will visit all the council's leisure facilities to find out what the public thinks about the centres.

The opinionmeter asks nine questions, giving the public the opportunity to comment on the state of swimming pools, leisure centres and Oxford Ice Rink.

Questions are located on a panel next to the machine above numbered responses (from one to nine). Those using the machine simply punch in the appropriate response number for each question.

The questions include cleanliness of the facility, how helpful staff were and whether visitors thought they got good value for money.

The opinionmeter is currently at the ice rink, where it will stay for the rest of the month, beofre moving on to Temple Cowley swimming pool.

Debbie Davies, 43, took the opportunity to put forward her thoughts when she took her children to the ice rink.

She said: "I think it's a great idea.

"We come from Wantage and use a private gym there, but occasionally use the swimming pools and the ice rink, of course.

"Generally I think the facilities are OK, but I would use council gyms if the standard was better."