Plans to cut millions of pounds from council services have been watered down, it emerged today.

It had been feared £2.3m would be axed from youth services over the next five years, but county hall has now said it will instead propose cuts of £350,000 from 2012.

The Oxfordshire fire cadet scheme and the Oxfordshire Youth Parliament have also been saved.

Meanwhile, plans to re-introduce on-street parking charges in the city on Sundays and in the evenings have been dumped.

Keith Mitchell, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: "I am particularly pleased we are not now having to look at savings in the youth service.

"The very fact we had to even consider such a thing is an indication of the extent of the problems in the national finances and their predicted impact on local government."