A proposal to divert hundreds of buses and coaches along narrow streets could bring the east side of Oxford to a standstill, worried residents say.

Oxfordshire County Council said road repairs on St Clement's Street and Cowley Road are "absolutely necessary" and people will have to put up with "short term pain for long-term gain".

Work began in the area yesterday on Magdalen Bridge, but other repairs from Monday, August 13, will see St Clement's Street blocked off at The Plain.

A series of closures at The Plain entrances to Cowley Road and Iffley Road will then take place, prompting other diversions.

People in the area think diverting bus and coach traffic on to streets next to St Clement's, Cowley Road and Iffley Road will spark chaos.

Meanwhile, car users will have to endure even bigger diversions along Marston Ferry Road or The Slade during the seven weeks the work is expected to go on.

Ashley Hurden, 50, who lives in Jeune Street, said: "I appreciate that the work needs to be done, but the diversions and the way the load is focused on Jeune Street and Union Street will be catastrophic.

"Jeune Street is not a road that has been created to cope with thousands of buses.

"What really concerns me is that we found out about this by accident and when we tried to consult with the county council they seemed unwilling to pressure the bus companies to look at alternative routes.

"There isn't a single solution, but by spreading the load across several streets bus customers can still get a reliable service without putting the complete burden on Jeune Street and Union Street."

Nick Kenworthy Browne, 35, who also lives in Jeune Street and works from home as a freelance composer, added: "This doesn't make any sense. They are potentially repairing one road and wrecking another.

"I am expecting to repair a whole load of cracks on my home when all this has finished because our houses rattle."

Oxfordshire County Council spokesman Paul Smith insisted there was no ideal solution and that the proposed diversions were based on those used for previous roadworks in 2001.

Ian Hudspeth, cabinet member for transport, said: "The High Street, Plain Roundabout and St Clement's are worn out. We are repairing them so that no further work will be needed for many years to come.

"Such work is always disruptive in the short term, but there is a real long term gain. You only have to look at the Abingdon Road and Headington 'hamburger' roundabouts as examples of schemes that caused inconvenience while under way, but were successes when complete."

Oxford Bus Company spokesman Phil Ashworth said the company was in discussion with Oxfordshire County Council about possible diversion routes.

He added: "We are aware of the fact that you would need the wisdom of Solomon to introduce a system that would please everyone."