A church has taken a lead in a campaign to curb vandalism and anti-social behaviour by offering to donate land and £20,000 towards a new youth club.

The Rev Bernard Schunemann, vicar of St Mary and St Nicholas Church, Littlemore, made the offer in a bid to create a desperately-needed youth club for the village.

But the offer is dependent on solid support from the youth service and city council, which have both been criticised for failing to invest in the area.

Earlier this year the Oxford Mail highlighted a spate of vandalism in the village with street lighting and paving damaged.

A war memorial outside the Royal British Legion clubhouse has also been destroyed, and wreaths left in memory of a war veteran who died a few weeks ago were trampled on.

The growing number of incidents sparked a meeting between parents, Peers School, the youth service, the church and local businesses. But Oxford City Council and police failed to attend.

Residents, including young people, say a dedicated youth centre is needed to tackle anti-social behaviour, which they claim is a result of boredom among teenagers.

Mr Schunemann said he hoped the church's offer would prove people in Littlemore were prepared to show faith in the youths by investing in their future.

But he said it was crucial that Oxfordshire County Council's Youth Service and the city council rallied to back the project -- by putting in cash and resources.

He added: "Because it's so difficult to get something off the ground for these disaffected young people who won't go to other neighbourhoods where facilities exist, I'm prepared to make church funds and land available. But it needs to be a joint venture."