An inventory of council garage sites in Oxford is being conducted with the aim of finding land for housing.

At a meeting of the city council's executive board on October 21, members asked housing portfolio co-ordinator Steve Northey to draw up a full list of garages and what they are being used for.

Councillors were discussing a report that showed there were enough empty garages sites in the city to build up to 76 homes.

Executive member Susan Brown said some garages were being used for storage by people who no longer lived in Oxford.

Fellow board member Maureen Christian added: "People are giving up the occupancy of garages because the lighting is so poor, and they are often being vandalised."

Mr Northey was asked by councillors to report back with a list of garage sites by December.

He said after the meeting: "When garages fall into disrepair, they often become associated with crime and that can cause concern for people who live near them.

Sites in Thrift Place, Blackbird Leys, and Masons Road in Wood Farm have been successfully developed for housing, and councillors want an accurate overview of where else that might be possible."

Dozens of garages owned by the council have stood empty since the authority doubled rents two years ago to £14 a week. Non-council tenants are charged twice as much.