A free-to-use cash machine should be installed on the Barton estate as soon as possible, Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said today.

The Link - which provides a network of free ATMs across the country - said Barton was an appropriate location in February.

However, an exact site has still not been identified and there are concerns that planning permission may draw out the process even further.

Mr Smith said: "Everyone in Barton is very keen to get a free-to-use cash machine on the estate.

"When I spoke to the Link a couple of months ago they said the area was definitely going to get a machine and that has not changed.

"They have sought out possible locations and put forward a list to banks. The banks will then talk to shopkeepers to gain their agreement.

"I don't think that process has happened yet, so later this week, I'm planning to go and talk to shopkeepers myself to see if any of them would take a machine."

At the moment, there are two cash machines which charge for withdrawing cash, while the nearest free machine is in London Road, Headington.

Nam Sanghera, who runs Sanghera Supermarket - a grocery shop at Underhill Circus - said he would be happy for the machine to be installed in his shop.

He said: "I currently have a machine in the shop for which users have to pay a fee of £1.75, but I don't make a commission on that. I don't care about the commission.

"I am here from 5am and open until 10pm. I think it would be a good place to locate it."

Barton resident Melanie Phipps, who first flagged up the need for a cash machine on the estate to Mr Smith, said a free-to-use machine was badly needed by residents on the estate.

She said: "There are quite a few people here on low incomes and it seems very unfair that they should have to pay money just to get their own money out of a cash machine."

Link spokesman Graham Mott said a total of 600 areas had been identified as appropriate locations for free to use cash machine - based on poverty levels and distance from the nearest cash machine.

He said that in 129 areas - including Barton - exact sites still had to be agreed.

He said: "It is likely to be in or outside a post office or convenience store, but that is still to be decided.

"I can't really give a timeline for how long it is going to take. But I can say Barton is on the list and it will get a machine some time in the near future."