A campaign has been launched to ensure that no new houses are built on the site where the police's headquarters could be relocated.

Thames Valley Police has unveiled proposals to move its headquarters from a cramped site off Oxford Road, Kidlington, to land at Gowell Farm, off Howes Lane, Bicester, where it already has a traffic base and workshops.

But concerns have been voiced that if the new HQ is built there, it could eventually open the floodgates for more housing development in the area.

Bicester town councillor Les Sibley said he hopes to get up to 5,000 signatures opposing any plans for new housing. He was due to begin canvassing for support today. He said: "There are already 1,200 houses being built on Bure Park and residents don't want to see any more housing in the area.

"The residents who have houses backing on to Howse Lane are already experiencing traffic problems in that area and any new plan for housing will increase the problem."

Cllr Sibley said any extra land in that area should be used for recreation instead.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said three planning applications would be submitted to Cherwell District Council at the end of August one for the new headquarters at Gowell Farm, one for houses on the existing police headquarters site in Kidlington, and a third for houses on land at Gowell Farm.