Parish councils in parts of Oxfordshire face a grim future with fewer and fewer candidates for seats, claims MP Boris Johnson.

The MP for Henley blamed the new Code of Conduct recently introduced by the Government.

He said it was draconian and discouraged people from serving their communities by becoming members of parish and town councils.

Mr Johnson said a new report by the Economic and Social Research Council and the University of Aberystwyth highlighted the problem.

He said: "The report shows parish councils are right to be worried about this new draconian code of conduct.

"The number of parish councillors has been falling and this new rule will mean fewer people signing up for voluntary work." The code requires councillors to declare shareholdings of more than £25,000 in a business which has dealings within the parish.

They must declare an interest in any matters under discussion which might benefit them, their relatives and friends. All hospitality and gifts worth more than £25 must be declared.

Mr Johnson said: "It is ridiculous to require registration of interests not only of the councillors themselves but of their nephews, grandchildren and even the partners of those people.

"This heavy-handed intervention fails to appreciate that parish councillors overwhelmingly are honest and well-intentioned."

He said parish councils faced being regulated out of existence by growing Whitehall interference.