NEIGHBOURS of Oxford's famous shark house feel the building has become run down and is starting to detract from the area.

People living near the city's famous landmark in New High Street, Headington, feel the house has become an "eyesore" and are calling for something to be done.

Repairs to the roof of the house and work to spruce up the shark - which started in June last year - have still not finished and residents feel the property has fallen into a state of disrepair.

Adrian Hicks, 52, said: "From conversations I have had with other residents, no one feels the shark is doing the road any favours these days because of the state of neglect it is in.

"The upstairs rooms and the roof appear to be totally infested with pigeons and the front door is boarded up.

"Then there is the scaffolding that went up in the summer. There were grand statements made at the time, but little work seems to have been done since."

The house is owned by BBC Radio Oxford presenter Bill Heine and the shark celebrated its 21st birthday last August.

Scaffolding was put up to allow for repair work to be carried out on the roof to stop the pigeon infestation and to give the shark a fresh coat of paint.

Other residents have spoken of their concern, including June Whitehouse, 83, who has kept an archive on the shark - known as the 'sharkives' - since it was installed.

She said: "I'm getting a bit worried about it really. I noticed recently that one of the windows and the front door is boarded over and the house is looking a bit dilapidated.

"I'm absolutely baffled as to why the scaffolding is still there, there is no work going on.

"It's a shame as the shark has become a tourist attraction and people come from all over the world to see it, but the house looks rather sad."

Stephanie Rooker, 48, said: "I have no objection to the shark, in fact I think it's great, but something needs to be done about the house.

"It is no longer the quirky tourist attraction it was."

Oxford City Council confirmed it had received one official complaint about the house to its environmental health department in the past six months.

A spokesman for the council said: "The council is aware of complaints from local residents and we are working to resolve them."

Mr Heine has said the upper part of the scaffolding is expected to be taken down next week.

He added: The shark is 21-years-old and the work we are doing now is to ensure it is there for another 21 years."