Mothers and children on an Oxford estate were celebrating last night after developers were told they would not be allowed to bulldoze a play area for houses.

After months of uncertainty, Sermon Close play area in Risinghurst has been saved.

Oxford City Council's decision-making board will rubber-stamp the decision next month.

Deputy leader Ed Turner will recommend the land is not released for development.

Residents campaigned to save the play area after Home Group, a housing association, wanted to build six, three-bedroom homes on the site.

Yvonne Lowe, chairman of the Risinghurst and Sandhills Parish Council, said: "I'm absolutely ecstatic about the news.

"There aren't enough places for children to play in the area and this park is so well-used by all the kids living around here.

"I also think building houses on the site would have made it very claustrophobic, with so many homes on top of each other."

Mother-of three Susana Malho, 33, of Baker Close said: "I'm so glad the city council has heard the people and have their best interests at heart.

"We went around knocking on doors and got more than 90 signatures on a petition against the plans. Everyone was against it.

"It's a great area for kids to go and hang out and because we're a really close community, everyone can keep an eye out for each other's children."

Nicola Bastable's children James, 10, and Rosanna, 14, also use the play area.

Ms Bastable, 39, of Sermon Close, said: "It's great news. The children came up with a lot of ideas on what they want the park to look like if they managed to save the play area, so hopefully we'll be able to use these now."

Mr Turner said the decision was due to a policy change by the new Labour-run council.

He added: "We need to look beyond the small, in-filling schemes. We also felt that to allow this development would have been damaging to local residents.

"The previous council held a consultation event to see how residents felt about the proposals - but there is not much point in having one where everyone said they didn't want it.

"We wanted to show we are listening."

Home Group regional development director Andy Berridge, said: "Home is trying to address a need for more affordable, quality housing in this area that meets the requirements of our customers.

"After a long consultation and planning application process we are disappointed that, for reasons outside our control, we will be unable to proceed with this scheme.

"Our new development would have provided high quality, much needed homes, while not compromising on the needs of existing residents at Sermon Close.

"However, we will continue to work with the city council in achieving their affordable housing targets."