South Oxfordshire District Council has refused to confirm whether Didcot's town square will be named by the people.

In June, residents were asked to pick their favourite name for the area alongside the cinema and Cornerstone arts centre from a shortlist of 11, with Brunel Square the winner.

However, it has been revealed that the people's choice may not be used, as the council will make the final decision.

Andrew Down, the council's head of business and information systems, said there were three names in the running, Brunel Square — after Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the engineer who built the Great Western Railway through the town — and two others from the original list.

Mr Down said: "The formal policy of the council is that the street naming decisions are taken by me, in consultation with cabinet members. Normally, councillors don't get involved but obviously there's a lot of public interest in this one, so I will make sure it comes to proper consultation with councillors."

Mr Down said: "There was the vote in Didcot and many people voted and came through with a clear preference and we have to listen to that.

"Yes, it does carry some weight and clearly there's some link between the town and Brunel but there are other options."

He said the decision would be made in the next two months.

David Buckle, chief executive of the council, said: "I don't think Brunel is a particularly appropriate name, as I don't think that Didcot has much to do with Brunel, but if the general view is it should be Brunel, it's fine with me."