A sergeant has been forced to defend Thames Valley Police's failure to enforce a no-right-turn traffic sign in Oxford.

Sgt Jim O'Ryan said the force had to concentrate on tackling more serious crime because its overall budget was limited.

It followed a complaint to the city council's Cowley area committee on June 4 by Syd Castle, 70, of Boswell Road.

Mr Castle said that each morning, 80 or 90 motorists ignored a no-right-turn sign at the junction of Barn's Road and Frederick Road.

He said drivers from the Blackbird Leys housing estate used his street as a rat-run to reach Oxford Road without queuing at traffic lights in Between Towns Road.

Mr Castle demanded to know why the police never took any action and asked for officers to patrol the area, at least for a short period of time.

Sgt O'Ryan said the police could only step in if people provided evidence for court, by making witness statements including the registration numbers of the cars involved.

He said: "We do what we can with that sort of thing, but would you rather we prioritised that or things like burglaries?

"It all comes out of the same pot."

He added: "As far as getting a police officer down there for a week, I will make you no promises. But I will speak to the sergeant who covers that road and see if something can be done."