Residents who have been plagued by arson and burglaries have won a campaign to get street lighting installed in their neighbourhood.

People living in Bicester's Keble Road and Ruskin Walk are celebrating after Cherwell District Council agreed to put in the lights in a residents' car park.

Keble Road resident Kurt Ceri was so concerned about crime in the car park following an arson attack on three cars last month, he organised a 52-signature petition.

And on Tuesday Mr Ceri heard his campaign had been successful.

He said: "I am delighted. I have sent a newsletter to all my petitioners informing them of this fact, and understand they too are delighted.

"This outcome shows what a community in desperate need can achieve when it comes together and focuses on its cause.

"I hope that once installed, my neighbourhood will use it to full advantage to combat crime, by remaining extremely observant and alert at night.

"I would also like to thank David Campbell, our local crime reduction officer, who has been especially supportive throughout my campaign.

"However, there remain two other similar unlit car parks in the vicinity and I hope the council will do its utmost to fit them with desperately-required street lighting. In this day and age, no town resident should have to live beside total darkness.

"It puzzles me as to why these areas were not considered for lighting at the time of construction 40 years ago."

As well as last month's attacks on three cars, residents say the council-owned car park has also been the scene of burglaries, car theft and petrol siphoning.

Cherwell District Council's property and technical services manager, David Marriott, said planning permission for the lights was not needed, as had been first thought.

He said the council would consult residents on the positioning of lights before they were finally installed.

Andrew Fulljames, Cherwell District Council's property portfolio holder, made the final decision to put the lights in place.

He said: "If there are problems there, which there clearly are, they have got to be stopped."

He hoped the new lights would be installed within the next few months.