A Muslim woman hoping to train to be a life-guard in Oxford has said faith should not stop people learning how to swim.

Maryam Ramzy spoke after a row broke out when a Muslim woman was allowed to take a sauna and then swim while wearing a full-length robe and headscarf at a city leisure centre.

The centre, run by David Lloyd Leisure, has since said that members should wear "less voluminous" outfits when swimming for health, safety and hygiene reasons.

Mrs Ramzy, who lives in Cowley, helps run a monthly Muslim-women only swimming session at Blackbird Leys pool.

She said: "At the swimming pool, the lifeguard and teacher are both women and we swim as Muslim women all together. So, as there are no men there, we don't have to wear headscarfs and, while we don't wear swimming costumes, we can wear T-shirts and leggings.

"Islam says our clothes must be covering and are not allowed to be see-through, but if there are only women there there is no need to have your head covered.

"It's very important for us to keep fit and keep healthy and that's why we have set up this facility. You come across an awful lot of people who simply can't swim because they haven't had the opportunity to do it in a 'halal' environment."

Mrs Ramzy said: "I know plenty of Muslim women who go to saunas and swimming pools during the women-only time and it is available in Oxford.

"The council makes an effort to accommodate people with all sorts of requirements, so there's plenty of opportunity to select a time that's suitable for you, without having to go to mixed pools and saunas."

She added: "It must have looked extremely bizarre to be wearing a full robe in the water and it does draw attention to you, which is not what you are supposed to do."

Mrs Ramzy hopes that once qualified she and other women training will be able to extend the number of special 'halal' sessions.

Other requirements for public swimming to fit in with Islam include having windows covered in such a way that people cannot see in, and individual changing cubicles, as Muslim women do not expose any part of their body from the chest to the knee even to people of the same sex.

By Fran Bardsley