A scheme to employ wardens to patrol the streets of Oxford could be delayed because not enough people have applied for the jobs.

Earlier this year, the Government awarded Oxford City Council £651,123, over three years, to employ nine wardens to patrol four estates.

The wardens, planned for Rose Hill, Littlemore, Blackbird Leys and Northfield Brook, were due to start work in January.

They would be equipped with radios and would patrol the streets for at least 13 hours a day, on a rota basis.

But Steve Kilsby, the manager of Oxford's Crime and Nuisance Action Team -- which is co-ordinating the scheme -- said he had not received enough applications to the first advertisement campaign to fill all the £17,000-a-year posts.

He said several people had applied, but a second round of adverts was needed.

Mr Kilsby said: "We will have difficulty getting everything ready in time. It's difficult to do with near full employment in Oxford.

"But we have had some good candidates so far. We will do our best to prepare for a January launch, but there is no guarantee."

He said once training was complete, residents would be able to contact them if needed, at all times. "They will be working for the community and with the community. There must be no misunderstanding that they work for the police.

"I want the message to go out that the community can take responsibility to tackle issues in their area. We are trying to form advisory groups so people understand how things will work.

"They will be around nearly all the time -- that will be the difference between them and police beat officers."