Oxford Sikhs have asked the city council to provide them with land on which they can build a temple.

Sikh leaders say the city should give them the same help it gave the Muslim community, which was sold land at a reduced price for the construction of a mosque in Manzil Way.

The Sikh campaign comes as the council is considering a major sell-off of land and buildings in a bid to raise at least £2.7m.

Oxford is one of the few English cities that lacks a dedicated Sikh temple, known as a Gurdwara. It is estimated that there around 150 Sikh families in Oxford, who currently worship in a rented room in the East Oxford Community Centre, in Manzil Way.

A letter has been sent to the council asking for help in finding a site for a building capable of accommodating 250 people.

Dr Pritam Singh, an adviser to the Sikh community, said: "Wherever we go, a Gurdwara is the first thing we establish. Even Banbury has one. It makes us feel rooted and located in that place."

Gurdwaras are used for prayers, readings from the Sikh holy book - the Guru Granth Sahip - and playing religious music. Important ceremonies also take place there.

If one is built in Oxford, Sikhs plan to also use it as a community centre.

Dr Singh said: "Without a Gurdwara it is harder to pass on our religion to young Sikhs. We want to use it for Punjabi lessons as well, because there is not enough provision in schools."

There are two options for building a Gurdwara in Oxford. The favoured option is to find a site to build one from scratch but a church could be converted for the purpose.

Fergus Lapage, city council community development manager, said they would help establish the centre but refused to be drawn on whether the project would receive financial assistance.

He said: "We will give them support and help in finding a site because they obviously feel that it is essential for the development of their religion in Oxford. They want quite a substantial building and such buildings do not come cheap.

"The leisure committee already funds the Asian Cultural Centre, which is in place as a centre for various communities in Oxford."

A meeting has been set up between Sikh leaders and the council in July and it will be discussed at the council's leisure committee on July 23.