Parents in Oxford say an area where their children play has become neglected and are calling for urgent improvements.

Mothers living in Priory Road, Littlemore, say the green space is so overgrown that children are unable to use it.

But Oxford City Council says it does look after the site, though it is too close to homes to be set up as an official play area.

Many of the children living in the street are under 10 and walking to the other nearest alternative play area, in Oxford Road, takes 15 minutes and involves crossing two main roads.

Samantha Barrett, who has two children Keala, five, and Jadan, eight, wants the city council to smarten up the land.

Mrs Barrett, 33, said: "The kids aren't allowed to play ball games out at the front of the flats and the play area across from us is so poorly maintained.

"The kids love playing football but the ground is so uneven they can't. It needs more money spending on it, but this area never gets the same funding as Blackbird Leys or Barton.

"A lot of the children that live around here are very young and we don't want them going to the other park in Littlemore, which involves crossing busy roads and is mostly used by older kids."

Janice Parish, 45, also of Priory Road, said: "It seems a shame that we can't get a bit of money spent down here. I think the council feels that the children can just use the facilities in Rose Hill, but it's a long way to go for the young ones."

Becky Harrison, 26, also lives in the flats in Priory Road with her children Reece, eight, and Maddison, three.

She said: "This park is completely overgrown and uneven. It's a big patch of land and would be ideal to put up some goals and a bit of play equipment.

"But as it is, it's not of any use. The kids did start playing out at the front of the flats, but there were a few complaints from some of the other people that live there. There's nothing for kids around here and they're bored. The thing I worry about is that if they get bored, then they might start getting into trouble."

Dawn Harris, 47, who looks after her grandchildren Tyler, nine, and Tianna, eight, as well as having two children of her own, Sian, 14, and Sam, 10, said: "It's not just the younger children either, it's all the kids. There's nothing for them to do."

The city council denied that the area was not maintained and said it cut the grass every 15 days. A spokesman added: "It's not considered as a suitable site for a football pitch, because it's very close to houses."