A hostel for homeless people is being opposed by residents who say they fear it would bring 'undesirables' to their neighbourhood.

Linda Hyde, who lives in Dorchester, has bought a house that was formerly a bed and breakfast in Chaunterell Way, Abingdon, and wants to run it as a hostel for the homeless.

The Vale of White Horse District Council is considering granting permission, and has said there is a desperate need for such housing in the town. More than 80 per cent of the Vale's homeless are from Abingdon. At present, most are sent to a hostel in Cowley, Oxford, because of an accommodation shortage.

But residents are raising a petition on the Lady Grove Estate to object. They fear their new neighbours could be drug addicts or sex offenders.

Mother-of-five Wenda Wilson, who lives next door, said: "Mrs Hyde has promised to make sure no-one has drugs problems or convictions. But she cannot guarantee this. "Our children play in the field behind the house I'm worried that will no longer be safe."

Mrs Hyde, who runs two similar hostels in Aylesbury, said she felt residents were failing to appreciate a 'desperate need' in Abingdon.

She said: "People are under the impression we are bringing in paedophiles and heroin addicts. That's just not true.

"I understand their concern, but homeless people need help."

Paul Staines, the Vale's head of housing operations, said he welcomed private accommodation for the homeless because of the shortage, but said the Vale could not control who ends up housed there.