A club's plans for a sports and housing development have been backed by Oxford city councillors, despite claims of racism from cricketers and complaints from residents.

Morris Motors Sports and Social Club has been told it can demolish its clubhouse, between Crescent Road and Barracks Lane, Cowley, and redevelop the site.

The scheme involves a new clubhouse and 63 homes in partnership with a Wallingford-based developer.

The council's strategic development control committee gave permission a day after the club's former cricket section urged Sport England to withdraw its support for the plans.

Members of Morris Motors Cricket Club, who were told last month they could no longer use the grounds, claimed they were kicked out because 60 per cent of their players were Asian.

They claimed they were dismissed because they were not ploughing enough money into the clubhouse bar as their religion did not allow them to drink alcohol.

Sport England is investigating claims of racism -- denied by Morris Motors Sports and Social Club chairman Tom Doliame, who is Asian -- but said it was still supporting the scheme.

No-one from the cricket club, which played at the site for 50 years, spoke at the committee meeting.

Briony Enser, of Turner Close, whose home backs on to the site, said: "Barracks Lane is a well-used cycle track, particularly by schoolchildren, and there will be increased traffic, which will pose a risk.

"I'm also worried about the serious loss of light in my house because of dominating properties. This is an infringement of my human rights."

Morris Motors Sports and Social Club spokesman Neil Boddington, said: "Plans are in place to monitor any increase in traffic, with a back-up plan to combat it if it becomes a problem."