An Oxford University college says its historic High Street frontage is being used as a "dumping ground" by the city council.

The arrival of a pollution control monitor with a chimney and cage left members of All Souls fuming this week.

The college says the monitor is the latest addition to a growing line of metallic boxes and machines that is turning the medieval facade into an eyesore.

The bursar of All Souls, Thomas Seaman, said the college's patience had run out with the addition of the air pollution measuring device.

"It's an abomination," he said. "We now have a line-up of a traffic sign, a parking ticket box, a traffic control box, a silver box which contains the power of the pollution device, and the pollution device itself, which in size and ugliness makes the others look good.

"We wonder how the council can install so many egregious items in front of a Grade I A listed medieval facade. "

The college has written to the council demanding to know why the monitor has been sited in front of the college.

Mr Seaman said: "This is turning the front of the college into a dumping ground. We are already seeing rubbish being left on the boxes.

"When we asked why this was happening, we were told it was because the pavement outside All Souls is wide."

Oxford City Council said the law required it to collect air pollution data from the High Street.

Head of environmental health John Copley said: "I understand the college is unhappy and air pollution officers are in discussion with the bursar.

"We will investigate alternative sites."

Oxford Preservation Trust secretary Debbie Dance said: "The High Street is one of our jewels and to put this here is ridiculous."