An article in a national newspaper claiming an Oxford estate "has a reputation you couldn't even give away on eBay" has provoked anger and fury from the local MP and police.

The column appeared in the Daily Mail claiming Blackbird Leys residents spend their mornings staggering round either drunk or on heroin.

The paper's feature writer John Edwards spent a morning with the estates four female Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and wrote an article called: Can the Plastic Police tame the Blackbird.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith, who lives on the estate, branded the article 'over-the-top' and Chief Supt David McWhirter, from Thames Valley Police, called it 'sexist'.

Now the estate's county councillors, city councillors and parish councillors are penning a joint letter to the Daily Mail asking for an apology on behalf of Blackbird Leys.

In the article, Mr Edwards wrote: "Some of these people hanging around were drunk already and plainly had the glazed eyes and boil-flecked faces you get from too much heroin.

"It's known as far away as Japan that Blackbird Leys has a reputation you couldn't even give away on eBay.

"You would have to put in half a day at the library to count up all the murders, attacks, drug convictions, deals, robberies, car thefts and anything else that comes to mind which would land you in prison. This is bad territory. Not all bad. The bad bits are just easier to find."

He also describes the PCSOs checking their reflection in shop windows.

Mr Smith, who has lived in Blackbird Leys for 27 years, has been contacted by angry constituents.

He said: "It's over the top, sensationalist tabloid writing at its worst. It's an exercise in putting the boot into Blackbird Leys, something which, over the years, has been an easy option for some of the tabloids.

"But people will get on with their life and take pride in their community because so much good goes on here."

Criticism of the PCSOs angered the city's most highly-ranked officer Chief Supt David McWhirter.

He said: "The article was sexist and written by someone who appeared to be in a time warp. It is a pathetic piece of journalism.

"It's a pity because Blackbird Leys is a place which has been coming along well and regenerated itself."

A joint letter has been written by Oxford city councillors and Oxfordshire county councillors from the estate and Blackbird Leys Parish Council.

Brian Lester, parish council chairman, said: "I'm disgusted with the negative attitude of the Fleet Street trash. This guy has totally misrepresented the PCSOs, the estate and the residents."

County councillor Val Smith said: "We've got a good strong community spirit and it is most unfair somebody can float in for one day, make assumptions and publish them as fact."

City councillor Lee Cole said: "I know we've got a few problems but nothing like that. He's got a bit carried away like it's something by Barbara Cartland or Mills and Boon."

The column appeared in the Daily Mail on Wednesday, September 6.

The Oxford Mail has attempted to contact Mr Edwards but he has been unavailable for comment.