Elderly and disabled residents who were forced to buy a TV licence despite being entitled to a free service have been told they will be reimbursed by Oxford City Council.

Warning letters were sent to residents living at Bradlands, in Mill Lane, Marston, and some bought a £126.50 licence, fearing they would be prosecuted.

But following a story in Wednesday's Oxford Mail, the city council sent letters to residents telling them they would get the money back.

Resident Malcolm Everton said: "I'm very pleased the residents will be getting their money back. A lot of them are elderly, or suffer from dementia, so they worry a lot about these things.

"It's terrific. It was in the paper and then all of a sudden it seemed to stir them and it was sorted within a few days."

The city council normally buys a concessionary licence for sheltered housing but the purchase was delayed this year because some housing schemes no longer qualify.

Council spokesman Louisa Dean apologised for any distress caused and said all tenants would get a refund within about 10 days.