FAMILIES living on an Oxford estate said they will fight plans to bulldoze a play area.

People living in Sermon Close and Carter Close in Risinghurst have learned the Home Group, a housing association, wants to build six three-bedroom homes on the site.

Residents' groups have been mobilised to fight the plans.

Yvonne Lowe, chairman of the Risinghurst and Sandhills Parish Council, has begun to rally parents and launched a petition against the proposal.

She said: "This play area is well used by the children and young people in the area, even though it is not in the best condition, and losing it would be a blow to the community."

Mrs Lowe, 61, added: "These houses are supposed to be for young families, but where are kids going to play if they have taken the play area away?

"It will push them out on to the street, where it is more dangerous for them and there is the potential for them to get into trouble."

The city council-run play area was one of 14 earmarked for closure in a report published in May.

Sermon Close needs around £70,000 for repairs, but the council cannot fund the work from its budget.

The Rev Andrew Teal, of Carter Close, said: "I understand this development has been earmarked for people as first homes and I can see the social reasons for that.

"But I'm not convinced it justifies taking away the public spaces of children."

Nicola Bastable, 38, of Sermon Close, whose 13-year-old daughter Rosanna uses the play area, wrote to the developers to complain about the consultation period, which began last month and finished on Friday.

She said: "I don't know how they expect people to respond properly when they only give you a week."

Home Group said it was keen to work with those most affected before submitting a planning application.

A spokesman said: "From this initial consultation we have learned residents are concerned about losing parking spaces and a safe environment for children to play.

"Staff are also aware residents were concerned about being given just a week to respond to the plans. However, this is just the first step in the consultation process."

The council said the Home Group approach was the first about developing one of the 14 play areas earmarked for closure. No planning application had yet been submitted and, if a plan was approved, it would work with Home Group to find ways of of providing a play area.