BADLY cracked and crumbling pavements in an Oxford road are causing anger among neighbours.

Residents of Nicholas Avenue, in Marston, are frustrated pavements in surrounding roads have been resurfaced while they have had to make do with repairs.

Ron Cooper, 78, who has lived in the road since 1955, said he was disgusted with the state of the pavements and is calling on the city council to act.

Mr Cooper said: "This isn't a new thing, I've been going on to the council about this for the past 18 months.

"The pavements are in such a bad condition along this road and nothing is being done. Everyone is pretty fed up that it's been allowed to get like this.

"And to make matters worse the council has repaired several other roads in this area, which I felt were not as bad, and we get told there isn't the funding for ours."

Mr Cooper said temporary work to repair damaged areas carried out three weeks ago was "insulting" to residents.

He added: "The time and money spent doing that could have been put towards permanent repairs to the road."

Diane Wakeley, 47, agreed with her neighbour and said she preferred to walk in the road rather than on the pavement.

She said: "The pavements are absolutely awful along Nicholas Avenue. Walking in the roads is safer than on the pavements as there is less chance of you doing yourself an injury.

"I just don't understand why they have spent money improving other streets around here and not spent it on ours?"

The Oxford Times reported in September last year how Oxford was facing a backlog in repairs to roads, verges and pavements because of a lack of funding.

The city council identified a list of work totalling £24.2m, but County Hall only allocated £1m.

Local campaigner Mick Haines has backed residents' calls for the improvements to be made.

He said: "This road is an absolute abomination and desperately needs work to improve the state of the pavements.

"It is just another example of Marston being neglected by the city council. If it were a street in Blackbird Leys or Barton then it would already be done."

Councillor Jean Fooks, executive member for a cleaner city, said a bid for work on the pavement in Nicholas Avenue has been submitted.

She added: "Any recent repair work has been carried out as part of our routine maintenance schedule.

"If anyone has particular concerns about any areas of pavement please contact us on 01865 252900 and we will inspect it."