People are demanding action to revitalise a run-down row of shops on a housing estate.

Northway Parade, at the centre of Northway Estate at Headington, Oxford, has become a target for vandals since four of its nine shops closed down.

Now people are calling on the city council, which owns the parade, to spruce up the area and do something to attract new tenants.

They handed in a petition containing more than 300 signatures after a public meeting. Michael Proctor, pharmacist at the Northway Pharmacy, said: "Trade has dwindled because fewer people are coming here and it is putting us all under pressure. I am worried that the whole row of shops will close down."

Anne Mogridge, manager of Dillons newsagent, said: "It's a disgrace. Anyone coming round here would think it is a slum area."

Assistant Pam Rodgers added: "When I started working her seven years ago all the shops were open.

" They have gone downhill over the last four years."

Defunct shops include the All Seasons Launderette, which was destroyed in an explosion two years ago. More recently a pet shop and a grocer's in the parade have gone out of business.

Betty Fletcher, of Stockleys Road, Northway, said: "The shops are in a disgusting state. When you arrive and you look at these shops it does not give Northway a very good name, but there are some lovely people on the estate."

City council head of property Richard Giles said plans for the parade of shops included concessionary rents and rent-free periods.

"We are trying to put some more resources into the shopping parade to brighten it up and take positive steps to re-let the vacant shops," he said.

Story date: Friday 30 April

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.