The Government has given Oxfordshire residents more time to have their say over plans to create a 15,000 home eco-town on their doorstep.

Public consultation over the proposal has been extended until April 30 when the housing minister will decide which of 11 sites across the country will go ahead.

The move comes after a judicial review bid failed to stop the proposal in its tracks.

Oxfordshire has two potential sites, 15,000 homes at Weston Otmoor or 5,000 homes in North West Bicester.

Alan Cotton, of the Weston Front campaign, is confident the Weston Otmoor site will be thrown out, but urged people to take part in the consultation.

He said: “All the decisions coming out are damning of the Weston Otmoor plan, which is good from our point of view.

“We are hopeful given due consideration when the consultation period does close Weston Otmoor will be thrown out. But we really need as many people as possible to fill in a consultation form.”

Both Cherwell district and Oxfordshire county Ccouncils are against the Weston Otmoor proposal.

Housing minister Margaret Beckett said: “It is vital we identify the right locations for these eco-towns and I will not support any proposal that our assessment and consultation concludes is unsuitable.

“I have extended the deadline to ensure that all parties, irrespective of their views, are given the full opportunity to have their say, and I urge everyone to respond to this consultation.”

To take part go to ecotownsyoursay.direct.gov.uk