Shoppers could face an increase of peddlers and illegal street hawkers in Oxford city centre this summer.

Street traders are currently policed by a full-time city council street trading officer - but the funding for that post has been slashed by £18,000, making it a part-time post in future.

At the end of the month the post will become part-time and councillors fear it could result in streets such as Cornmarket being swamped by illegal traders, driving away shoppers and hitting the trade of legit- imate businesses.

Richard Huzzey, Lib Dem city councillor for Holywell, said: "We don't want people finding Cornmarket an intimidating environment with lots of unlicensed traders harassing people."

And Mr Huzzey said unless funding can be found then shoppers may be driven away.

He added: "I am hoping there is an extra pot of money they can find."

Last year, the city council issued a total of 120 street trading licences, for one-off and regular traders - the authority also took action against about 20 illegal traders.

But although the three main parties at the Town Hall all agree the funding cut will have a negative impact on the city centre, they cannot agree who actually wielded the axe during budget negotiations.

Lib Dem portfolio holder for a cleaner city Jean Fooks said: "The other two groups did not seem to think it was so important and it was not in the budget approved by council.

"I shall do everything I can to see if I can find the money."

Labour group leader Bob Price said it was a Lib Dem-Green budget: "We would have liked to have seen it in."

He added: "The budget for environmental health is £2m. To say this is the job they will not fill shows they have their priorities wrong."

Green leader Craig Simmons said it may have been part of the base budget and overlooked by all parties.

But he added: "Ultimately the responsibility is with the leading group, the Lib Dems."