Young children have been stopped from playing ball games outside their homes because of older youths who have wreaked havoc on an Oxford estate.

A No Ball Games sign was put up last week in Burdell Avenue, Sandhills. The ban has stopped children like Michael Moroney, nine, from playing outside their homes.

The sign was put up by Risinghurst and Sandhills Parish Council, to stop older youths causing problems on the estate.

The Oxford Mail has reported that yobs have torn down walls and lobbed eggs and stones at windows in the Sandhills area.

Police have since clamped down on the problems.

The parish council stated that it did not want to penalise younger children, and criticised Oxford City Council for not providing a play area -- promised when planning permission was given for a new housing development on the estate.

Michael's mother Ruth, 42, said: "My husband and I feel it's heavy-handed to ban ball games, especially in view of the fact there used to be a children's play area on Sandhills."

She added: "Sometimes I played games out there with them and I feel a lot of responsible children are getting penalised for those who are irresponsible."

She said the nearest play area was in Risinghurst, but access was via a subway under a dual carriageway.

Michael said: "I think it's unfair because some of us play for football teams and we need to practice.

"It's the bigger people who are kicking balls against fences and windows. I don't see why the smaller kids should be banned."

Neighbour, Sarah Kropveld, 32, said: "I have no children myself but I do not object to children playing football outside my house.

"I think it's a sign that the neighbourhood is safe and healthy.

"Burdell Avenue is a dead end street so there's no road safety issue with children playing football or cricket on the road."

Parish councillor Paul Phipps said: "We have had problems with children congregating on corner greens of the estate, which is a natural thing for them to do.

"However that has encouraged antisocial activities like romping through gardens, damaging cars and the destruction of garden walls.

"It's not children playing street games in particular we objected to -- it's the anti-social behaviour from older youths from outside the area.

"We put the signs up after working with police and the city council's Crime and Nuisance Action Team (Canact)."

Mr Phipps said resentment had grown in the area because a play area at a new housing development was never provided.

He said: "The new housing development was built on the old school playing fields, where there used to be a children's play area.

"The parish council has been striving for four years to get a replacement area, but nothing has been provided.

He added: "The parish council feels it is not safe for children to play on the streets."

Oxford City Council did not want to comment.