An investigation is under way to find out how wildlife on Hinksey Lake in south Oxford is affected by scullers who have used it for more than a decade.

The report was commissioned by the Hinksey Park Users' Group after Hinksey Sculling School applied for permission to continue using the lake to train children to scull.

The club, which has used the lake for more than a decade, now wants to expand to provide disabled access ramps to the lake so that more children can be given the opportunity to learn the skill.

The club needs to raise £15,000 to provide a proper landing stage, from which sculling boats can be launched, and a ramp for wheelchair users.

But a licence, securing long-term permission to use the lake, is needed before the club can apply to Sport England for the cash.

Birdwatchers and wildlife lovers, who also use the lake, asked Oxford City Council to commission a survey to establish whether the boats harmed wildlife.

John Broadhurst, chairman of Hinksey Sculling School, said there had been no problems in ten years.