Those looking to have a dip in Berlin's famous heated outdoor pools this summer will be in for a chilly surprise.

Water temperatures at the German capital’s 16 gas-heated lidos – or Sommerbäder – will be kept two degrees celsius lower than normal.

The decision to lower the temperature was made by the pools' state-funded operator, Berliner Bäder-Betriebe (BBB), which said it was "doing its bit" towards reducing German reliance on Russian gas.

Speaking to the media, a spokesperson for BBB said: “We have made this decision because we wanted to make a contribution to the reduction of gas imports."

It's not the only political gesture made by public leisure facility operators in the capital city since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February.

Since March, anyone with a Ukrainian passport has been given free access to Berlin's public baths.