The character of Oxford's eastern suburbs is being destroyed by developers and landlords, say residents who fear the expansion of the city's "bedsit-land".

Residents of Cowley lobbied city councillors at the Cowley area committee over the increasing number of homes of multiple occupation.

They called for curbs on property speculators, whom they accused of ruining residential neighbourhoods with blocks of flats and rented accommodation.

BMW car worker Giuseppe Bianchini, a member of HART, the Horspath Road Area Residents' and Tenants' Association, said: "East Oxford and Cowley Road have shown the problems of increasing bed density.

"Stricter controls are now being applied in that area and this is resulting in the landlords and developers relocating.

"Where are they going? They have started to move into the Lye Valley, Horspath Road and Fernhill Road triangle.

"These developers see this zone as an easy touch."

Mr Bianchini, of Fairfax Road, said: "We want to know what you are going to do to stop these communities being destroyed."

His comments were echoed by construction site manager Alan Harper, also of Fairfax Road, who said the increase in rented properties had led to more noise, badly-maintained houses and a strain on local services.

Families who had lived in the area for years were now considering moving out, he warned.

Cowley Marsh councillor Stan Taylor told the meeting that, despite attempts to carry out Government policies aimed at creating "mixed communities", 85 per cent of the properties in some streets were households of multiple occupation.

Nick Worlledge, city council planning officer, said: "It's the nature of the free market beast that this is likely to happen."

Committee chairman Bryan Keen agreed to consult council colleagues on what could be done to improve the situation.