RESIDENTS in North Oxford have hit out plans to expand the Oxford Half Marathon which already leaves people 'imprisoned' in their homes.

Last week Virgin Sport revealed plans to turn the event, now in its third year, into more of a festival and said it was 'open' to the idea of a full marathon in the future.

Bands and DJs will be lining the route along Banbury Road and down Marston Ferry Road on October 8.

But those living in the area said people were already 'kettled in' on race day and had not been consulted despite assurances their concerns would be heard.

John Fuller, a poet and emeritus fellow at Magdalen College, signed a petition urging Oxford City Council to refuse the application for the race with the route as it stands.

He said: "I use the word imprisoned because people can't get of their roads by car for the whole morning.

"I know it's a Sunday morning and most people just read the papers, but what if you had a heart attack - you couldn't leave by car a steward would tell you, no."

He added: "We need to make sure there's a balance between commercial profit being made and the benefits to the city.

"A full marathon would be inappropriate in a small city such as Oxford."

Residents also feared for the future after 'no meaningful consultation' over the past three years.

Chairman of the Linton Road Neighbourhood Association, Philip Allen, said decision-making surrounding the event - between the council and Virgin Sport - was far from transparent.

He said: "The decision has been made and residents are being told about it afterwards.

"We were told after the first city centre marathon in 2015 that the consultation would be different the following year but it wasn't and it's been the same this year.

"We have made representations on changes to the route but they have not been heard and the process has not been carried out in public and I'm concerned it will the same if it expands."

Mr Allen added that residents needed to know what benefits the marathon was bringing to Oxford.

He said: "Virgin said last year they want to put Oxford map but it doesn't need to be put on the map - the company is riding on the coat tails of the brand Oxford.

"There's a lot of stuff happening on a Sunday and things which have to be cancelled as a result.

"It's problematic because it's not clear what benefits people are getting from the run.

He added that in recent years a doctor has been unable to go to work at the John Radcliffe Hospital during the event and boarders at Dragon School weren't able to have lunch as staff couldn't get to the school.