Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott attacked Oxford City Council's record on services including rubbish collection when he launched Labour's local election campaign in Rose Hill last night.

Mr Prescott joined Oxford East MP Andrew Smith and the city council's Labour group leader, Alex Hollingsworth, at Rose Hill First School.

Mr Prescott said residents had pride in their estate but were being let down by the city council's Liberal Democrat-Green administration not investing in services.

However, about 10 Socialist Alliance Party supporters and children, picketing at the school gates, blamed the Government for letting the estate become run down and chanted "shame on you for turning blue".

Mr Prescott said residents had told him the estate's image had declined because of fly-tipping, which was the result of the city council making people pay for the collection of bulky items. He said the withdrawal of money to help elderly people with their gardens was also unpopular.

The city council's executive spokesman for housing, David Connett, has described Rose Hill as one of the most run-down estates in southern England, and said it would be difficult to attract regeneration money because it was linked to more affluent Iffley village. But Mr Prescott pointed to Rose Hill's new Sure Start centre for families with young children as an example of the Government pumping cash into the estate.

Ben Kenward, of Court Place Gardens, Rose Hill, who is standing as a Socialist Alliance candidate in the local elections, said: "It's a cheek to see John Prescott coming to one of the most deprived areas in Oxford which has had years of neglect. "What they need to do is spend some money on this area and on the housing."

Mr Smith, who is Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said Mr Prescott's visit proved the Government's commitment to Rose Hill.

"What residents said was that Rose Hill can be a very nice place but they feel a number of tenants put into short-term lets were spoiling things for everybody else," he added.

Yesterday, the Oxford Mail reported how a new city council survey, called Planning For Real, revealed tackling housing problems and crime and disorder were the top priorities for Rose Hill residents.