Tenants whose landlords have withheld deposits when they leave a property are being urged to join a lobbying campaign.

The appeal is being made by West Oxfordshire Citizens Advice Bureau, which says that up to half of all private tenants lose their rent deposits.

CAB manager Barbara Shaw says: "We see scores of people every year who have been swindled out of hundreds of pounds by landlords and agents."

The CAB appeal comes as the Government plans to consider a compulsory scheme to safeguard tenants.

Mrs Shaw is urging local people who have had problems to write to Witney MP David Cameron.

The CAB Witney office is on 01993 771245.