Residents turned out in force last night (Tuesday) to call for plans for new student accommodation in Oxford to be scaled down.

More than 90 people living in the New Marston area attended a public meeting to air their views about Oxford Brookes University's application to build 17 three-storey hostels for 592 students at the former Government buildings site off Marston Road.

Posters with the slogan "Two Storeys Maximum" were waved by protesters at the meeting, organised by the city council planning committee in St Michael's First School.

People expressed concern about problems the development would create in the area.

Norman Gibson, of John Garne Way, said: "People are going to rob myself and my disabled wife of the happy and peaceful retirement that we were hoping to enjoy.

"At the moment, the view from our flat is beautiful, but if these plans go ahead our sitting room, and even our bedroom, would be overlooked because all our windows face this proposed development."

Concerns were also raised about the intrusive impact all-night lighting on the site would have on neighbours.

Bill Holman, of Edgeway Road, called for a traffic survey to be carried out.

He said: "A major concern in this area is parking. Even without this development we have overspill parking from Oxford Brookes."

The deputy vice-chancellor of Oxford Brookes, Jim Bradshaw, said the development would relieve pressure on affordable housing in Oxford.