THE threat of a grey uprising appears to have averted controversial plans to change the hours that over-50s can swim at Oxford's Peers Sports Centre.

Swimmers were outraged after seeing a sign at the Littlemore facility that warned Saturday morning hour-long free swimming was being moved to Sundays.

The notice then disappeared - and staff told swimmers there had never ever been any such plans.

On Saturday, swimmers returned to their pool to discover the proposals did exist, but had been shelved because so many pensioners had voiced their opposition.

Cathleen Dean, of Cowley, said: "We were upset. People were quite startled by it really.

"I just think you do what you can to keep yourself fit and we thought it was being taken away from us."

Fellow swimmer Kathy Newman, 78, said: "I hope it will stay open. I won't go anywhere else.

"They seem to be trying to save money by closing it on Saturdays, but I can't come any other time because it is inconvenient."

Sheena Townsend, 76, of Headington, said: "It is great it will stay open. I learned to swim here.

"Hearing it was to close on Saturday mornings was confusing and upsetting.

"It's daft but they keep telling us different things."

Last week, Oxford City Council, which runs the pool, said the pool would remain open at the same times as normal and accused regulars of misreading a sign suggesting a plan to open later on Saturdays in order to save money.

Then Steve Holt, the council's leisure manager, said the idea of closing on Saturday had never been discussed.

Jean Charleton, 69, of Littlemore, said: "I wasn't happy when I saw the notice, but they've changed it back so I'm pleased."

Ann Jaycock, 66, of Headington, added: "It's fantastic, it's what we all wanted.

"We can't come on a Sunday afternoon or evening because that is dinner time.

"Saturday morning is prime time."

Mrs Dean's husband Trevor, 72, said: "They are backtracking because they know people have started up about it.

"The sign said it was shutting all day Saturday and it would open on Sunday evening."

The future of Peers Sports Centre has been in the balance ever since it was revealed the centre needed urgent refurbishment work.

It's future has been secured until the Oxford Academy opens on the site in September.

Mr Holt said: "They have misread the notice, the centre is continuing as normal.

"There was a suggestion put forward by staff as a way of saving money.

"I do not know where the Saturday closure has come from, but it is not the case."

Staff at the swimming pool on Saturday told The Oxford Times a plan to close the pool in the mornings did exist and was aimed at saving money on overtime and at moving managerial shifts to weekdays and to Sunday afternoons.

These proposals have now been shelved.