A council blunder has wrecked the prospect of a dream home for a Faringdon couple.

It has also angered other residents, and, while the council has apologised, the issue may trigger an inquiry by the local government ombudsman.

When neighbours Paul and Julie Smith and Peter and Patricia Fox were told of plans to extend the terraced home of Peter Sharps and Tara Strowger at 73, Marlborough Gardens, they raised no objections.

But the Smith family at number 75, and the Fox family at 77, were shocked when the extension turned out to be bigger than they had been led to believe.

The neighbours and Faringdon council had been wrongly told by by the Vale of White Horse District Council that there would be a two-storey side and a one-storey rear extension to the house, but the actual proposal was the other way round.

Ms Strowger said: "The whole thing has caused us stress and has upset our neighbours. What we planned as our dream house turned into a nightmare."

Environmental services director John Rawling said: "This unfortunate situation was caused by human error for which we have apologised."

As a gesture of goodwill the council is prepared to erect a tall fence at the Smiths' home to screen the extension.

But Mr Smith rejected the offer as a "joke". He said: "I have just paid £180 for new fencing. We have been misled all the way. Had we been given the correct planning details at the start we would have objected."

"The two storey rear extension overlooks our garden. We have lost our privacy. The matter has been handled badly and I am considering taking it further."