Householders fear police staff will be able to peep into their bedrooms – and are calling for a wall to be built to protect their privacy.

Thames Valley Police have been given permission to tear down two blocks on the site of their Kidlington headquarters to make way for a new modern office building.

But retired policeman Tony Norris, who has lived in Oxford Road, in front of the headquarters, for more than 30 years, fears staff will be able to look into his garden and those of his neighbours.

The west wall of the Block G office, which is three stories tall, backs onto about 10 gardens.

Mr Norris said: "If they take this wall down all you will have is open space.

"It means police on the other side of our gardens will be able to look in, and we lose the privacy and seclusion we've got.

"People could be outside having breakfast and you could get people looking over the hedge.

"If you hear a noise outside, you wouldn't know if it's a policeman or a burglar."

He said other problems would be caused by cars shining their headlights, disturbing animals living in the homes.

Last week he wrote a letter to district planning officer Bob Duxbury, asking that Thames Valley Police consider building a brick wall – the size of Block G's west wall - to solve the privacy issue.

He said that he had spoken to Thames Valley Police's head of corporate support Nick Harverson, who had agreed to consider building a brick wall.

The grandfather said: "We will lose money from the value of our homes if this happens. It's about keeping our quality of life."

Another neighbour, who has lived in her house since 1974, but did not want to be named, said: "What we want is privacy in our gardens.

"If this goes ahead the staff will be able to see into our bedrooms as well."

The police force has said that the new building, which will be on the site of Block C, would form a largely "like-for-like" replacement of the two current buildings in terms of its size, but would have a more attractive appearance.

The application was approved by councillors at Cherwell District Council's planning committee on Thursday.

It was agreed that the space provided by Block G would extend the current car park and create 23 new parking spaces.

Councillor Colin Clarke, lead member for planning, said: "This application provides for the continued modernisation of the Thames Valley Police buildings.

"The buildings currently on the application site are aged in appearance and are now out of character with their recently-renovated neighbours."

Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Connie Primmer said there was a plan in place to build the wall as requested.

She added: "It will be the same height, and the residents’ privacy will not be affected."