Residents living off Oxford's Abingdon Road could find out tonight whether a house will be converted into a hostel for homeless people.

The city council's central, south and west area committee is set to consider a planning application to convert a family home at 180 Marlborough Road.

A similar proposal in 1993 failed.

But council planning officers are recommending that councillors approve the application.

A number of residents have written to the council suggesting the hostel could cause disturbances. They also fear vulnerable people might not be properly supervised.

The Hinksey Park Residents' Association has also expressed reservations about the proposal. Craig McConnell, who lives in Marlborough Road, said he thought the home could be transformed into accommodation for about half-a-dozen single women.

He added: "Residents are extremely tolerant and sympathetic towards the needs of homeless people, but, for genuine reasons, they feel this is perhaps not the best location.

"This is a family area, and another family moving into the house would be a different proposition."

The meeting takes place at Oxford Town Hall at 6pm.