Campaigners are celebrating news that playing fields at Peers School will not be sold for housing to help fund the cost of the controversial Oxford Academy.

A three-acre area at the school in Littlemore was earmarked for sale to housing developers, which could have raised £6m for Oxfordshire County Council, which owns the land. But following protests, the council's cabinet has performed a U-turn.

It now means a larger site will be available for the new academy, which will specialise in sports as well as maths and technology.

The academy will retain all the playing fields for pupils to use.

Anne Mogridge, chairman of Littlemore Parish Council, said: "It's great news. Residents will be delighted by the decision.

"They greatly value the playing fields and local people wanted to see them kept as they should be. There's not a lot of green area left in Littlemore."

Ruth Wilkinson, the co-ordinator of the Save Peers Sport Centre Campaign, said: "If more money can be found for the academy without selling land, I would hope resources could be found to keep the sports centre and swimming pool open as well."