Families in Abingdon Road, Oxford, say they are tired of being woken up early on Saturday mornings by contractors using pneumatic drills to repair the carriageway.

Roadworks have troubled residents and businesses on the busy street over the past two years, with some guesthouse owners claiming business has been badly affected.

The last phase of repairs, due to finish on July 25, are between Monmouth Road and Northampton Road.

Kay Hogg, of Abingdon Road, said she had twice been woken at 7am on a Saturday by noisy drills outside her bedroom window.

She said: "I feel it is really inconsiderate. I appreciate they have got to do it, but it is ridiculous they should be starting at that time in the morning.

"Even with the double glazing, it sounds like it is in your bedroom. I don't know how anybody would sleep through it."

Kerry Gardner, another Abingdon Road resident, said she had also been bothered by noise. She said: "Doing repairs at 7am on a Saturday morning is slightly antisocial to say the least."

Elizabeth Laskar, also of Abingdon Road, said: "It is very early -- I think it could drive people to insanity. I can even hear it at the back of the house."

City councillor Rick Muir, who lives in Abingdon Road and often works from home, said he had had to keep his windows closed during the hot weather because of the noise.

He said: "I can sympathise with the residents. If they are starting very early on a weekend, then that is obviously wrong. It is not reasonable to start at that time."

He said if it happened again, he would take it up with the county council.

But Paul Smith, county council spokesman, said there were strict rules about when work could start on Saturdays. He said: "Noisy work will never take place before 8am on a Saturday.

"Sometimes staff will be on site before then and some minor, quiet work will be done, but never anything that will create great noise until 8am at the earliest."