Villagers believe they have won their campaign to get an ugly wall in a conservation area replaced by a timber post and rail fence.

Richard Preston at the wall, which is due to be replaced

Residents felt the wall was an eyesore overlooking the picturesque valley running through the middle of Steeple Aston, near Bicester.

The 6ft high wall was built by developers at Manor Farm in South Side, where they are converting three barns into homes and building a fourth house.

The wall can be seen by people living in homes on North Side opposite and by many people using The Tchure footpath.

When Cherwell District Council gave planning approval to the developers, Sustainable Property Group, of Dinton, near Aylesbury, a post and rail fence was one of the conditions. So, when the wall went up, residents complained.

Parish councillor Richard Preston said: "It is absolutely a horrible eyesore in our conservation area. The valley is the main focus of the conservation area and the wall ruins it."

District councillors agreed and Cherwell's north area planning committee chairman, Paul O'Sullivan, who lives a short distance from Manor Farm, said the company was warned in a letter to comply.

Company director Darren Anderson said: "We have taken everyone's comments seriously and the wall will be taken down and replaced by a fence.

"The wall was going to be faced in reclaimed limestone to improve its appearance.

"We thought the wall was needed because it is a sloping site and we have excavated some of the soil for water re-cycling tanks."