Oxford residents have been told they are stuck with the area's air pollution problem and it must be declared when they sell their homes.

The Vale of White Horse District Council is set to create an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) around the A34 in Botley.

And residents have been told they will now have to declare the poor air quality in Home Information Packs (HIPs) when they sell their properties.

The zone, which is being imposed because levels of nitrogen dioxide exceed Government safety standards by more than a third, could cover almost 300 homes in Botley and North Hinksey.

Residents have been warned it could take many years to tackle the problem.

Areas in Oxford city centre and Abingdon are also set to become AQMAs.

In Botley levels of nitrogen dioxide - an irritant which can cause problems for people with respiratory disorders such as asthma - have been measured at 55 micrograms per cubic metre, 15mgs over the Government limit.

Council spokesman Gavin Walton said: "Unfortunately the air quality problem will take many, many years to sort out. The A34 is a vital road for the area and you can't go diverting traffic.

"There is no instant remedy."

The AQMA, expected to be officially declared in March, could cover 160 homes in Westminster Way, 100 homes in Southern by-pass Road, 30 homes in Stanley Close, as well as properties in Yarnells Road and Yarnells Hill.

While Oxford city councillors have discussed banning some lorries, buses and coaches in the city centre to cut the level of nitrogen dioxide from 67mgs, the district council is hindered by the fact that the A34 is managed by the Highways Agency.

Briony Newport, chairman of North Hinksey parish council, who lives on Stanley Close, said: "I feel a bit let down that they haven't told us about this."

Tracey Pearce, 33, of Westminster Way said: "It's dreadful.

"Sometimes the pollution is so bad you can smell it in the air.

"If they really can't cure the problem they should compensate people for it and the best way to do that is through their council tax."

However, David Corrie, residential sales negotiator at Oxford surveyors Carter Jonas, said: "I don't think people are going to ask for price reduction on a house because of low quality of air. City locations with a low level of pollution don't really exist because the two don't go hand-in-hand."