More street wardens and better children's play areas are needed to improve a park plagued by drug users and motorbikes, a survey of residents has revealed.

Oxford City Council sent out 1,400 questionnaires in July to people living next to Gillians Park, between Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys.

The survey was aimed at gauging opinion on how to spend £42,000 earmarked for improvements.

A majority of the 165 who responded asked for better children's play areas and more street warden and police patrols.

A Friends of Gillians Park organisation will now be set up and the city council is looking at designs for better play areas and will consult with police on improving safety.

But park lights will not be installed after Thames Valley Police reported muggings and antisocial behaviour mainly occurred in areas that already had lighting.

A council spokesman said: "Consultation is important in projects like this and we need to have evidence before we can move forward."

Parents and children at Windale Primary School, Imagine Nursery and the Leys Community Development Initiative (CDI) were also quizzed.

Most said they liked the green open space, but the main reasons for not visiting the park were problems with drug dealing, motorbikes and litter.

A separate children's questionnaire revealed the park's best feature was its swings and slide -- but some youngsters said they felt unsafe and did not like the graffiti or play equipment that had been damaged by fire.

County councillor Val Smith, who lives next to the park, said: "As interesting as the results are, the outcome was fairly obvious.

"But it's always worth talking to people.

"The important thing is to do what people want and find a nice play area and make the park safer.

"I don't think we have got to the stage where we can give up. We still need to fight on."

Patrick Stannard, chairman of the Leys Residents Association, said: "It's a very nice place and this is all going in the right direction.

"It's used by lots of people, there are games, there isn't too much rubbish and police have managed to keep the cars out."

Designs will now be drawn up to refurbish a children's playground and provide a football pitch, basketball court and youth shelter for teenagers.

Consultation will also begin with street wardens and police to increase presence in the park.