Skateboarders have been asked to go back to the drawing board with their plans for a new Oxford skate park.

Members of the Oxford Wheels Project were hopeful councillors would nod through their proposals for a new skate park in Cowley Marsh Park.

But the decision has now been postponed until the new year after Cowley councillors supported the park in principle but requested more details on issues such as how noise would be kept to a minimum.

Jack Richens, chairman of the Oxford Wheels Project, said the decision was frustrating.

He said: "We have been working on this for about 15 years now. Every time we get to a point where we think it will all go through, councillors say 'it's good, but...'.

"We've got to laugh, otherwise we'll cry.

"We have to be positive, though, as the councillors haven't thrown out the plans completely. We just need to go back to the drawing board and address the issues they've raised before trying again. The support for the park is phenomenal."

Cowley Marsh councillor Sajjad Malik said the decision was postponed because more than 180 residents signed a petition against the park and more details were needed about how it would be installed and run.

He said: "A lot of residents living near the park said they were frightened about the plans.

"I personally don't object to it but lots of people aren't happy about it, so we have asked the skateboarders to come back to us with a more detailed report. We have agreed it in principle."

A survey by the city council earlier this year found the majority of people living near Cowley Marsh Park would like to see a skate park at the recreation ground.