Ambitious plans have been unveiled to improve playing fields in Botley in an effort to stop vandalism and graffiti in the area by increasing use of the facilities.

North Hinksey parish councillors have drawn up a five-phase plan to improve the Louie Memorial Fields, in Arnold's Way, which could see the installation of an all-weather pitch, fitness trail and an improved skate park.

It is also hoped the upper and lower playing fields can be linked together by narrowing Arnold's Way to a single lane in places, meaning children will be able to cross safely between the two areas.

The first phase was completed last week, when the new £65,000 children's play area was opened.

The council has £50,000 to spend on further improvements, after setting aside about £5,000 a year from its budget over the last decade.

Eric Batts, the chairman of the playing fields sub-committee, said: "The next phase is proposed to be an all-weather surface and play area for older children, which will allow them to play football, basketball, cricket and hockey. We're hoping to get something put up in the next year."

Councillors will visit play areas around the county to get ideas and could build something similar to a recently-opened multi-use games area in Steeple Aston, if matching funding can be secured from outside bodies, such as Sport England.

If the council gets the money it also hopes to bring back into use three floodlights which were mothballed three years ago, after vandals repeatedly smashed the bulbs.

Mr Batts said: "The whole of that area is subject to a lot of vandalism, because it's so isolated. We need more activities for children to stop it happening."

Other ideas under consideration include a fitness trail for teenagers and adults, a new pavilion, improvements to a copse area to make it more accessible, a clear-up of two overgrown ponds and an extension to the skate bowl.

Chairman Briony Newport said: "What they have got now isn't good enough. I just want to get something for the teenagers, because there's a lot of vandalism.

"We have catered for the smaller children, so next it will be the older children's turn."