Riverside gardens are one of the main attractions of a five-bedroom family home in Kidlington.

Number three, Watermead is tucked away along a private lane and has lawns that slope down to the edge of the River Cherwell.

Owner Kathy Walton, a former teaching assistant, said: “We had lived in Kidlington for 10 years without knowing this road existed. It was only when we came to hunt for a new home that we discovered it.”

Mrs Walton and husband Peter, a retired accountant, bought the house 25 years ago and brought up their three daughters there.

Now their daughters have left home and they have retired, they decided to downsize and move to Witney.

Mrs Walton added: “We have many fabulous memories of this house. Our girls had so much fun enjoying the river. Each summer was spent paddling, canoeing or fishing.”

The house, which was built in the 1970s, includes a sitting room, dining room, kitchen, study and games room. All have windows or patio doors overlooking the river.

There are five bedrooms, including a master with an en suite bathroom plus a garden room and a double garage.

Mrs Walton added: “The house is wonderfully spacious. We have a games room large enough for a table tennis or snooker table and two of the bedrooms have balconies, one overlooking the river.

“The wildlife has always been amazing here. We regularly see all the normal garden birds and less usual types including kingfishers, pheasant, egrets, herons and an almost resident group of ducks.

“We have a canoe and our neighbours have a punt, so we make the most of the river and its setting.”

Number three, Watermead is on the market for £820,000.

For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact Carter Jonas on 01865 511444 or visit the website carterjonas.co.uk