An Oxford pensioner has embarked on a one-woman crusade to clean a mountain of cigarette butts in her quiet road in Headington.

Armed with a dustpan and brush, fed-up Ann Cole, 77, of Massey Close, has vowed not to let smokers from the nearby Churchill Hospital litter her street.

According to locals, hospital staff, patients and visitors have turned the close into a "giant ashtray" since a smoking ban prohibited lighting up in hospital grounds.

And, in what has become a daily ritual, Mrs Cole steps out into her road every day to sweep up after those who are too lazy to dispose of their fag ends correctly.

Mrs Cole said the problem started after a smoking ban was introduced at the Churchill Hospital in January - and has now called on the hospital do something about it.

She said: "We are not just talking about one or two cigarette butts, there are hundreds of them and it makes the area look very unattractive.

"I know that some of them are definitely hospital staff, as I've gone out and spoken to them and asked them to take their butts away with them.

"There are always empty cigarette packets, empty cans and crisp packets being dropped on the floor."

Mrs Cole said the close had become a popular spot for smokers as it was the nearest off-site place for them to go for their cigarette breaks.

Fellow Massey Close resident, John Barker, 67, said the hospital should provide bins at the entrance of the close to tackle the problem, but said the hospital had rejected the idea.

He added: "I called the hospital and spoke to them about the problem and asked if they would consider installing a bin at the entrance of the close for people to put their butts and litter in.

"The hospital said I couldn't be sure that it was hospital workers who were smoking there and that putting a bin in the close would encourage people to smoke.

"They really didn't seem to care."

A spokesman for the hospital said they encouraged staff, patients and visitors to be respectful of their surroundings, but they could not control individuals who chose to smoke on the public footpaths surrounding the hospitals.

The spokesman added: "We do, however, appreciate the concerns of nearby residents and since the introduction of the ban we have been reviewing its impact.

"We already offer staff support in giving up if they wish and we are currently reviewing the signage on site to further encourage those who want to smoke to do so in a responsible way."