Joyriders are risking lives on Oxford's Sandhills estate, according to worried residents.

Police have promised action will be taken to stop youths stealing cars, driving dangerously then setting them alight.

Officers assured residents -- who highlighted the problem after a series of car thefts at the weekend -- that action would be taken.

They revealed that 13 Antisocial Behaviour Contracts -- formal agreements to make youngsters keep the peace -- had been drawn up in Sandhills and Barton.

Sandhills resident David Mellings called for an alleyway between Delbush Avenue and Bursill Close to be closed off after watching youths use it to escape from officers.

Mr Mellings, an ambulance worker,said: "At 12.45am on Saturday, two cars were stolen.

"I reported it to the police and they arrived within five minutes. They chased the youths from the bottom of Delbush Avenue.

"On Sunday, I was in an ambulance on stand-by in Delbush Avenue, when two youths were doing hand-break turns.

"Within two or three minutes police arrived and they sent the police helicopter but the offenders got away again."

Mr Mellings was speaking at Oxford City Council's north east area committee on January 20.

He said: "My greatest fear is I'm going to get a 999 call saying a child or elderly person has been run over by these yobs.

"Speed humps won't work as people who nick cars don't care if they go over 10 or 15 miles an hour."

Paul Phipps, of Risinghurst and Sandhills Parish Council said: "Everyone you meet is concerned about this antisocial, threatening behaviour. I have noticed the escalation of the problem in Sandhills."

Pc Henry Parsons, of Oxford police, said: "We have extra resources working to try and deal with this I don't want to reveal what they are, as that could make them ineffective."

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