Plans to turn a guest house into flats have been thrown out because of a shortage of accommodation in Oxford.

The owners of 308 Banbury Road wanted to convert the B&B into four flats.

But Oxford City Council's planning committee members expressed concern at the high demand for guest house places in the city and said they could not afford to lose a guest house.

Labour councillor Maureen Christian said: "The tourist information board has said that some nights demand is so high that you simply cannot get a bed in Oxford."

The committee refused the application for a change of use.

It also gave its backing to plans to convert another home on Woodstock Road to a guest house.