Problems caused by the presence of a takeaway van outside an Oxford University college have been "blown out of proportion", according to a city councillor.

Mick McAndrews said he was furious about claims by Giles Henderson, Master of Pembroke College, that rats had been seen feeding on left-over rubbish.

He also said that claims that a kebab van attracted troublemakers to Pembroke Square were exaggerated.

But Mr Henderson said the problems were extremely serious and invited Mr McAndrews to spend an evening in college lodgings to witness them first-hand.

Mr Henderson, college bursar John Church, Junior Common Room president Ryan McGhee and representatives from other organisations in Pembroke Square complained to councillors at a meeting last week.

Mr McGhee said students, particularly women, had been treated with a total lack of disregard by the council because they were left to "run the gauntlet" through aggressive crowds.

But Mr McAndrews, Labour councillor for Barton and Sandhills, said the claims were "over-the-top".

He said: "I'm really angry because it is not true that there are rats.

"There may be a few problems with rowdiness but things have been completely blown out of proportion."

Oxford City Council's pest control department said it had not received any complaints of rats in the past 18 months following a clear-up project.

Mr Henderson said rats were only a small part of a wide-reaching problem. He said: "The issue has been around for a very long time. There are a whole raft of issues with noise and anti-social behaviour, such as people urinating on walls."

"We have already invited two councillors to visit us to see the problems themselves and Mr McAndrews is welcome to join them."

The council's licensing committee will carry out a review and Oxford police will monitor the van following the complaints.