Hundreds of residents are now backing the fight against being made to pay to park outside their homes because of events at Oxford's Kassam Stadium.

Opponents of the scheme in Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys have also learned the charges will be to cover the cost of changing the street signs banning motorists from stopping there.

Oxfordshire County Council launched public consultation into plans to charge motorists £10 a year for the permits, allowing them to park during events such as concerts, as well as on match days.

Permits on the estate were previously free for householders who owned a car.

Disabled drivers would not have to buy a permit.

The charges could be imposed by next year but residents have already completed petitions campaigning against the changes and have now been delivered questionnaires as part of the consultation.

Leys & Lye county councillor Barbara Gatehouse already has more than 500 signatures on a petition opposing the permits.

She said: "I don't understand why anybody should be charged for parking outside their own homes.

"Making sure people who are living round the football stadium don't have cars blocking up the streets is worthwhile, but that is what they are paying their council tax for already."

Mick Brown, club secretary at Oxford United, said: "We are tenants of the stadium company, much the same way as the residents are under the control of the council.

"We certainly feel sympathy for them when you have to pay for something you originally didn't have to.

"We're talking about approximately 30 events a year, so if you break it down per event it doesn't sound as bad but I would feel exactly the same as them in the same position."

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Brian Lester lives inside a parking permit zone in Pegasus Road.

He said: "It should not be up to the residents to pay to change the signs.

"It should be the sole responsibility of whoever's putting the events on at the stadium."

Each time an event is planned at the stadium, signs in Frys Hill, Brake Hill, Minchery Farm and Blackbird Leys are changed to show the dates when permits must be displayed.

The consultation letter tells residents all permit schemes run at a loss due to the cost of administration, maintaining the road markings, and enforcement of the scheme.