Banbury residents fighting a plan to build 1,100 new houses on green belt land at Bodicote have criticised a local newspaper's question and answer article into the proposals.

The story put a series of questions to developers Hallam Land Management.

But the Cherwell Heights Action Group said the article, in last week's Banbury Guardian, could have been written by the developer's PR department.

They said the survey did not ask the right questions and allowed the developers to fudge answers to difficult problems. They said the map of the proposed site gave no concept of what was intended. The action group said they thought the Banbury Guardian article was intended to placate rather than inform.

The Cherwell Heights group, Bodicote residents and an Adderbury protest committee are campaigning against the proposal to build a high-density housing estate on land off Oxford Road, Bodicote, next to Bankside. The planned new development, College Fields, would more than double the population of Bodicote. Town, district, and county councillors and Banbury MP Tony Baldry have backed the protests.

Bob Madge, chairman of the Cherwell Heights group, urged residents to continue their fight. He said: "We are not powerless. The next planning meeting is in September and we have a right to attend." A pro-development leaflet was delivered to homes in the Banbury area last week.

Mr Madge told protesters not to worry about 'all the advertising arranged by the developers'. He said: "They are clearly trying to change residents' minds."

Paul Napier, editor of the Banbury Guardian, said it was the paper's aim to "allow people to express their views".