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

The small unattended automated machine is being installed at all the city council's leisure facilities to find out what the public think about the service they are receiving.

The opinionmeter poses nine questions giving the public the opportunity to put forward their opinions on the state of swimming pools, leisure centres and the Oxford Ice Rink.

Questions are located on a panel next to the machine above numbered responses (from one to nine). So, for example, one might correspond to very unsatisfactory and nine might be very satisfactory.

Those taking part in the survey simply punch in the appropriate number to the question when they scroll through in order.

The type of issues discussed include cleanliness of the facility, how helpful staff were and whether they thought their visit was good value for money.

The opinionmeter is currently located at the front of the Oxford Ice Rink where it will stay for several weeks before being moved to nine other council-run facilities in the city.

Although it was briefly out of action at the end of last week, it is once again taking opinions.

Debbie Davies, 43, from Wantage took the opportunity to put forward her thoughts when she took her children to the Oxford Ice Rink.

She said: "I think it is 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 okay, but I would use the council gyms if the standard of them was better."

Alison Waterlowe, 27, from Watlington, added: "I think some of the council facilities, such as Temple Cowley Pool which my family sometimes use, could be a lot better than they are and I am glad to have this chance to voice my opinions."

Norman Elliott from Oxford Ice Rink said: "I reckon about one in ten people are using the machine. People should get the chance to say what they think about council services and so I think it's a good idea."

The machine will move to Temple Cowley Pool at the beginning of June.