Residents have put up "closed" signs in a row with a developer over the route of a footpath.

They believe the path was built on the wrong line and want to stop walkers, skateboarders and motorbikers from getting through to a park.

Alan Huddart and Robert Lowell live on either side of the end of a cul de sac Orpine Close on the Bure Park estate in Bicester. Both their homes overlook the park with Bure brook running down the middle.

Robert Lowell and Alan Huddart

The closed signs read: "No access to or from Orpine Close, currently under legal dispute. Please do not cut across gardens and borders (private property)..."

Metal barriers have been put up to reinforce the closure.

Mr Lowell said the developer, Redrow, had planned to build the path over his front garden. He said: "We bought our house because we wanted a safe area for our children to play. The location is ideal because we are not on the mainstream part of the estate.

"We thought it would be very quiet here."

He understood the path would not join Orpine Close but would go alongside the brook like another path on the opposite side of the brook.

Mr Lowell said: "We stopped the builders from putting the path over our garden. People were walking and motorcyclists were coming through thinking they had a right of way. When we told them they did not, some became rather angry."

His neighbour Mr Huddart said: "It has been a crazy situation. We have had skateboarders and children on scooters whizzing down the slope in Orpine Close and had walkers and motorcyclists trying to get through."

Jackie Day, managing director of Redrow Southern said: "The matter is being discussed with all parties involved. At this present time we are unable to comment."

But Tim Brunton, a planning officer with Cherwell District Council, said the footpath link was part of the approved layout on the estate.

"Redrow built Orpine Close but forgot about the path link. I think a barrier should be installed so motoryclists will not be able to get through.

"We wanted residents on the estate to have walking access to the parkland beside the brook," said Mr Brunton.