Alleyways frequented by drug dealers could be blocked off by crime fighting agencies following a £1.1m cash boost from the Government.

Other anti-social behaviour will also be tackled and education will be provided to prevent people misusing drugs, glue and lighter fuel.

Oxfordshire's five Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) -- Oxford, Cherwell, West Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire -- will receive £727,637 under the new Building Safer Communities Fund, which combines money which used to be issued separately.

The Home Office will also give £390,558 to Oxfordshire's three police area commanders, to tackle community safety issues in the Oxford, Northern Oxfordshire and Southern Oxfordshire sectors. In Oxford money is available for youth projects in Rose Hill, tackling drugs misuse in Blackbird Leys and Barton, as well as for crime reduction.

In March, police, councillors and residents gave their backing to plans to close alleyways in Windale Avenue and Pegasus Road, in Blackbird Leys, because it was claimed they were being used by drug dealers and as escape routes for robbers.

Hugh Marriage, crime reduction director for the South East, said the creation of the Building Safer Communities Fund would make funding more simple.