A wheelchair-bound Oxford man who has a ramp outside his house so he can get out and about is having difficulty getting to the shops because of cars blocking the dropped kerbs.

John Baker, 78, who lives in Warren Crescent, Headington, with his wife Pauline, 69, had a stroke and a heart attack at the beginning of the year and is now confined to a wheelchair.

The city council built the ramp outside his house so Mrs Baker could push his chair out of the house.

But she said that sometimes all the dropped kerbs near their home were blocked by parked cars.

She said: "They have built this lovely ramp but it's useless if we can't get out anyway.

"There are so many cars parked and we can't get to where the kerbs drop down.

"The other day I tried to get round it by wheeling him over a grassy verge but we got stuck.

"It's all right if there aren't any cars, but there always seem to be so many in our street.

"There are two houses with about five students in each and they each have their own car, they park in the street all day.

"I am feeling quite down in the dumps about it all. It has been a difficult year."

Claire Kent, city councillor for the area, said: "All the dropped kerbs are blocked so mobility scooters have to go on the road. It's very dangerous.

"We have three hospitals in Headington, so that's a lot of disabled people will need to visit."

A spokesman for the county council said people in the area were being consulted about the introduction of two controlled parking zones which would cover the Girdlestone Road and Quarry areas.

The consultation starts on Friday and will continue until the end of December.

The spokesman added: "We want to hear what people think.

"We cannot start making changes or part implementing a scheme until people have had their say on whether they think it is a good idea."

The zones would prioritise parking for residents, their visitors and small businesses in the area.

Residents will be sent full information on the proposals.

This will include plans and information on how to raise any concerns about the proposals.