Furious residents fear house prices will plummet if they become part an estate perceived to be a problem area.

People living in Spring Lane and Sandy Lane West in Littlemore, Oxford, are fighting a city council proposal to include their homes in the Blackbird Leys electoral ward.

And 200 people objected to the plan during a consultation excercise.

Martin John, the city council's electoral services manager, said: "The over-riding criteria when we draw new boundaries is electoral equality - that's why we're moving Spring Lane and Sandy Lane West - so there are roughly the same amount of electors per councillor.

His belief that the boundary changes would not affect house prices was challenged.

A resident who was too frightened to be named, said: "I don't want to sound snobby, but when we have invested money into your home, you don't want to see it wiped away because of one decision."

John Callow, director of Connell in Cowley, said: "There is a possibility, I'm afraid to say, that house prices will fall. There's a snob value attached to property when people are buying houses.

The Local Government Commission on electoral reform will makes a decision in February.