A pub owner claims building work to transform Oxford's castle site is thwarting attempts to run his new business.

Neil Ritchie spent £30,000 refurbishing the Jolly Farmers pub in Paradise Street, which he bought in November.

But he has become sick of the muddy mess left on the road and pavements outside the pub by vehicles leaving the nearby building site at the former Oxford Prison.

The site, which includes the remains of Oxford Castle, is being developed to create a £34m hotel, leisure and heritage complex.

Mr Ritchie, pictured, said the state of the road was so bad he was forced to use a hose and brush to clean it himself.

He said he twice complained to Oxfordshire County Council, but it was only after he went to talk to the site manager that a road sweeper arrived on January 6 to get rid of the thick mud.

"The sweeper is doing the job, but it's ridiculous it was allowed to get into this state," he said.

"I can't afford not to open up but they're not making it easy for me."

Mr Ritchie said he was constantly having to clean the floors in his pub when the mud got inside on customers' shoes.

People living in Paradise Street were also suffering.

Jonathan Walker, director of Oxford Castle Limited, said in a letter: "Our management on site has been alerted to the problem and, as you know, the area of concern has been cleaned manually today and also with an industrial road sweeper.

"The areas surrounding the site will be continuously monitored throughout construction, and cleaning initiated when required."

Work at the castle site is scheduled to be finished by early 2005.

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