Elderly and infirm people may be deterred from visiting a local beauty spot by a new path, a resident has warned.

The usual route to the park by Abingdon Marina from Lambrick Way has been blocked off by landowners Builders Ede, of Kidlington, who are putting up 22 houses on the site.

Builders Ede has also laid a footpath of loose chippings around the building site to provide access to the site.

The road to the park will be blocked off for two years while building work takes place.

Resident Anne Bargass, of Drayton Road, said she was furious when she discovered the usual path was blocked off: "When I go to the park there are always some elderly people down there and they won't be able to use it because the path is just loose chippings. I am not happy with it."

Jonathan Ede, managing director of the building firm said: "We have always said that we would maintain access. The safety of people is more important than anything else."

Mike Gilbert, Vale of White Horse District Council planning officer, said the council had made an arrangement with Builders Ede to get access to the park to maintain it.

He added that the usual route had to be closed for health and safety reasons and would opened again when building had finished.