Residents have criticised delays in work to improve parking, pavements and grass verges in Headington.

Residents of Lime Walk, in Old Headington and Risinghurst, have told Oxford City Council's north east area committee they wanted to see action.

But council officers say budget restrictions have limited improvements to roads and parking schemes.

Colin Carritt, the county council's area engineer, said: "There's always far more demand on resources than we can manage."

Janet Isaac, of the Highfield Residents Association, said a residents parking scheme was needed to stop commuters parking in and around Lime Walk. She said: "North Oxford has such a scheme, but it doesn't have three major hospitals and a large university like Headington does."

Mrs Isaac also criticised a delay in repairing cracks and potholes in Lime Walk. The city council scheme was due to be carried out this year.

She said: "Earlier this year, Lime Walk was listed as a high priority, but I've since been told the council was unable to do it because cars were parked there.

"Now I'm told it's no longer listed for this year. Two of my neighbours, one aged 72 and one five months' pregnant, have fallen."

Michael Ponting, chairman of Headington Business Association, said pedestrians were soaked by traffic driving through large puddles caused by potholes in London Road.

Andrew Burchett, of the city works department, said: "Lime Walk was a high priority when we made our bid for funding in December. When the list of approved schemes came back, only the section between All Saints Road and Old Road was on there."