Parents have criticised police for not responding to complaints about a homeless glue sniffer.

They said the man had been hanging around near Cutteslowe Primary School, Community Centre and playground for about a year.

Local city councillor Jean Fooks said several calls had been made to north Oxford beat officers -- but nothing had been done.

Mrs Fooks said the most recent complaint was made by the primary school at lunchtime on Thursday.

Mrs Fooks said: "I can't believe it has taken this long to get something done.

"This man is distinctly alarming to people. He obviously needs help."

Parents spotted the man, who dresses in black and is believed to be in his 30s, sniffing glue on a bridge over the A40 connecting the two parts of the estate.

Raising residents' concerns at the city council's north area committee meeting, Mrs Fooks asked beat officer Pc Julia Jacobs to ensure action was taken. Pc Jacobs said she was aware of the man, but had not realised there was so much concern, and pledged to inform fellow beat officers to look out for him.

She said: "I remember seeing it on our log. When I looked again the job had disappeared and I thought it had been dealt with. We have spoken to this man on previous occasions. He is of no fixed abode and appears in Cutteslowe on and off. He has only recently started hanging around in the daytime."

Lesley Deacon, of Wolsey Road, Cutteslowe, said her 10-year-old son Jonny was threatened by the man in Cutteslowe Park two months ago. She said she called police, but they "didn't seem interested".

Miss Deacon, who has two younger children, said: "I am very angry. I thought the police would come out straight away because a child had been threatened, but they haven't done anything. This man leaves bags full of glue all over the place. It's worrying for the children," she said.

Mother-of-three Michelle Stevens, of Wren Road, said she had called police and stopped two officers in a patrol car earlier this week, but nothing had been done.