The streets of Oxford could become alcohol-free zones as problems with drinking hotspots in certain parts of the city spiral out of control.

Gameskeeper owner Carol Benney is fed up with drinkers outside her shop

Residents living at the edge of a zone in Cowley Road -- between Union Street and Manzil Way -- say crowds of street drinkers gather outside their homes, shouting abuse at passers-by, and vomiting and urinating on the pavements.

One bench, outside The Gameskeeper shop, in Cowley Road, has become a haven for drinkers.

Carol Benney, who lives and works at the shop, said she had been plagued with problems for two years and, despite making several complaints to the council, nothing has been done.

She said: "I'm not prepared to wait any longer for something to be done. We have had two years of daily exposure to human degradation while these people drink themselves to death.

"We have regularly seen people drink themselves senseless and pass out.

"We have seen them vomit and lose control of their bladders, stand up to cross the road for another tin of drink and fall flat on their faces in the road and crack open their heads."

Mrs Benney said the group of drinkers, which usually consists of three to six people, intimidated people, particularly the elderly and mothers with young children.

She added: "I have had little old ladies dash into my shop for refuge when threatened. I think the only way to deal with this problem is an Oxford-wide ban on street drinking."

At a city council east area committee meeting, chairman Craig Simmons said: "We recognise the zones need to be changed. Problems have arisen on Cowley Road, particularly outside The Gameskeeper shop.

"We have heard reports that police are directing street drinkers out of the zone towards the bench. It has become a hotspot."

Beat officer Acting Sgt Simon Beaton said the situation would be monitored.

He added: "We're targeting individuals who're recurrent drinkers with a view to issuing ASBOs. We do direct people out of alcohol-free zones, but not to specific points."

But Mr Simmons said although attempts had been made to deal with the problems, a city-wide alcohol-free zone was now inevitable.

Decisions on expanding alcohol-free zones are the responsibility of the city council's executive comm- ittee.

Mr Simmons said: "We do not think extending the zones necessarily works. We would prefer to see the zones shrunk, so problem areas can be dealt with and you don't end up with hotspots of drinkers on the edges."

He has now "reluctantly agreed" to have the benches outside The Gameskeeper shop moved, branding it a "temporary fix".

Susan Brown, the executive member for community safety, said: "An announcement will be made in the coming weeks about what action will be taken."

Mrs Benney said she had now been given a logbook to record antisocial behaviour.