Homes could be demolished in the centre of Didcot as part of ambitious plans to transform the town.

A £60,000 study was unveiled by South Oxfordshire District Council last week at a meeting of community leaders.

Recommendations could include pulling down houses to make room for more - to fit in with Government guidelines on housing density.

However, the idea has angered the town council leader who thinks residents have been kept in the dark.

John Cotton, district council cabinet member for planning, said housing association properties could be targeted for demolition.

He said: "It's inevitable that the town centre will get some more housing - the question is where and how many.

"This may include redevelopment of existing housing stock. It's about where the best place is to build houses."

Mr Cotton was unable to pinpoint which areas could be marked for regeneration, but stressed the study was looking at housing plans up to 2026.

Until now, expansion plans have focused on greenfield sites on the edge of town.

Town council leader Margaret Davies said: "I think the public need to know this is one of the options being considered.

"I don't know where they're looking, nobody knows, but residents deserve to know a chunk of Didcot that contains houses could be demolished and replaced with housing at a higher density.

"The affected residents are not being consulted. There needs to be transparency."

The town is earmarked for 9,000 homes over the next two decades - expansion that would double the existing population.

About 4,500 homes are already planned at sites including Ladygrove East and Great Western Park.

A further 4,500 homes are included in the South East Plan, the blueprint for regional growth between 2016 and 2026.

The town has been designated a growth point, which means it gets money from the Government for facilities in exchange for housing as it expands.

Four other studies looking at ways to improve Didcot were launched at the invitation-only consultation meeting, organised by the district council.

Country parks, transport, economic growth and branding will be the subject of studies costing more than £45,000 each.

They will be jointly funded by Government grants and the district council.

Countryside officer Dominic Lamb is overseeing the study into green spaces for Didcot.

He wants to see a large country park, possibly with a lake, on the outskirts of the town.

The study will also look into areas of greenery in the town centre.

Residents groups will have their say about new facilities in Didcot through new "project boards".

Each board will be made up of 10 members, who are representatives of key community groups in the town.