Fears for the safety of students in an unlit, overgrown Oxford lane have led councillors and university leaders to call for improvements.

Councillor Mick Andrews wants vegetation in Cuckoo Lane cut back

A sexual assault in Cuckoo Lane was reported to police in February.

Investigations into the incident were dropped, but Mick McAndrews, Oxfordshire county and Oxford city councillor, said it should be a "wake up call" to stop attacks happening in the future. Oxford Brookes University directors and police were alerted about the alleged assault, in the lane, which runs between Headley Way and Marston Road.

It is near Brookes's Morrell Hall student accommodation and Headington Hill campus.

Mr McAndrews said: "It's a nightmare during the day and gets even worse at night because of overhanging branches and no lighting.

"The ground is broken up and someone needs to take responsibility for it."

He said it was part of the cycle route into the city, but the overgrown branches made it impossible for bikes to negotiate.

Megan Turmezei, secretary of Pullens Lane Residents' Association, said: "Cuckoo Lane isn't somewhere I would walk through at night.

"We walk our dog down there from time to time, and we would certainly want to ensure students feel com- fortable."

The university said it took student safety very seriously, and had measures in place to protect people who were using the narrow lane to get to halls of residence.

Ian King, Brookes director of estates and facilities, said: "Cuckoo Lane is not owned by Oxford Brookes University and we do not therefore have any formal responsibility for it. However, we would welcome a move to take in hand any overgrown areas that might compromise the safety of students.

"We work very closely with the police to ensure that our students are aware of all the issues surrounding security.

"At the start of each academic year, new students are informed in talks and leaflets of the risks and how best to avoid them. "There is also a Walking Safety Bus which runs between midnight and 3am on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

"This involves volunteers walking students between university sites via Cuckoo Lane."

Neither Oxford City nor Oxfordshire County Councils were able to confirm who was responsible for the lane.

Sgt Henry Parsons, of Oxford police's north east area community beat team, said: "This is one of the areas that are being patrolled by officers on bicycles.

"I've been down there every day I've been on duty.

"Any tidying up is obviously the preserve of the landowner and our crime prevention officers would be more than happy to advise on possible measures."