Neighbourhood disputes over loud music and bonfire smoke could erupt into fights because of staff cuts at Oxford City Council, councillors have been warned.

Maurice Daly, 44, of Lime Walk in Headington, Oxford, told a north east area committee meeting on Tuesday that no environmental health officers were available when he called the council to complain about smoke from a neighbour's property.

He said he got no assistance during the entire weekend and was later informed that the number of officers dealing with such complaints had been cut from eight to five.

He said: "We're going to have civil unrest with people fighting in the streets and Thames Valley Police brought in, just because something wasn't dealt with.

"As council taxpayers, we need to know where we stand.

"Council tax goes up year after year but the services we receive are going down and down."

Marston councillor Mary Clarkson, the city council executive member for environment, said environmental officers provided only a discretionary service that the council was under no legal obligation to provide.

She said the Labour administration, faced with a £2m budget deficit after the election in May, was forced to make some cuts. But she said a policy decision was taken to maintain a basic service to tackle noise and nuisance, and she blamed staff illness for Mr Daly's experience.

City council leader Alex Hollingsworth said the council's portion of council tax had risen by an average of only 4.5 per cent over recent years.

He added that large rises overall were attributable to increases in the county council's needs.