Sir – Residents of North Oxford got off lightly with one night of noise from that rave in Cassington.

For the past ten days, the anti-social behaviour of some Oxford Brookes students around Cowley Road between 11pm and 4am has kept residents awake for hours.

Shouting, swearing and house parties are the main problem, but students also urinate and vomit in the street and gardens, chant rugby songs, vandalise property (mainly cars), drop takeaway litter and up-end rubbish bins in the street.

Occasional loud nights would be tolerable, but regular, disruptive behaviour on work nights is unacceptable.

Wednesdays are the loudest nights — Fuzzy Ducks night at the O2 Academy — with Fridays and Saturdays a close second.

The police do a valiant job, but it must be an impossible task to tame 1,400 drunk students as they leave a Fuzzy Ducks night to do the hokey cokey back to halls or rented houses, leaving mayhem in their wake.

Some think this a ‘student area’ so anything goes. In fact, students are simply a visible and vocal minority in this vibrant and friendly neighbourhood, where young and old, professionals and families, get along in peace.

Students are an important and welcome part of this mix, so long as they behave considerately. No one welcomes neighbours or passers-by who cause a nuisance.

With Brookes expanding annually, and hundreds of family homes being converted for multiple student occupancy (274 in the last two years alone), it is vital that the burgeoning student population behaves like young adults at night — not like hooligans.

If they cannot, perhaps Brookes should do East Oxford a favour and accommodate its undergraduates on campus.

This would have the additional benefit of freeing up thousands of badly-needed homes for families and workers in the city.

Elizabeth Mills (Mrs), Chairman, Divinity Road Area Residents’ Association