Residents are concerned about plans to demolish an Oxford school and build 10 houses and 24 flats in its place.

Oxfordshire County Council wants to sell the site of Windmill First School in Margaret Road, Headington, for a housing development once pupils move to Headington Middle School next year.

People living in the area are upset that the main school building, built in 1908, could be knocked down.

Although it is not listed, they claim it is one of the most interesting buildings in the road, and that new homes will create extra problems. Children at Windmill First School will leave the site as part of the switch to a two-tier education system in the city.

The county council originally submitted a plan to Oxford City Council to knock down an extension at the school, turn the old building into about six flats and build 14 houses at the site.

Now a second application has been submitted, proposing the demolition of the whole school and the construction of 10 houses and 24 flats. Such a scheme could push up the price of the site.

Mary Hope, chairman of New Headington Residents' Association, said: "Generally, people feel the school is very attractive. There's general disquiet that properties could be built that are out of character with the area.

"What we're concerned about is that developers will want to put as many houses on the site as possible. Residents in Margaret Road already have traffic congestion and this will add to it." Janet Issac, of Highfield Residents' Association, said: "We believe the school should be left and used for nurses' accommodation or flats for rent, as it's very near the hospitals."

Oxford City Council has written guidelines about the re-use of redundant schools, which state that, where possible, they should not be demolished.

Senior education officer Keith Borien said the county council would not have the final say on the building's fate. He said: "When it does close, the council will dispose of it, but it's unclear whether developers would want to demolish it."