Oxford City Council's chances of winning a High Court battle to stop controversial parking permit charges are only 50-50, the Oxford Mail has been told.

As Town Hall chiefs prepare to decide whether to take on Oxfordshire County Council over the issue of residents' parking charges, it was also revealed the challenge could cost tens of thousands of pounds.

But this week, the city dropped the biggest hint yet it was ready to wage war with County Hall.

Councillors resolved to do everything in their power to stop residents being charged £40 for a permit to park outside their homes.

And that - given the county council's reluctance to budge on the issue - probably means a courtroom showdown.

The Mail has learned that at the heart of any legal challenge by the city council would be the claim the County Hall consultation earlier this year was flawed.

One council source said he had been informed by lawyers the chances of winning a court case were "50-50".

But the main worry for city councillors is the cost of a court appearance, which would be met by the taxpayer.

Labour group leader Bob Price has labelled the charges "a complete travesty of democracy and the principles of consultation", an opinion echoed across the council chamber.

And his colleague John Tanner has called for the city to use all possible legal powers to prevent the charges being introduced.

City council deputy leader David Rundle said: "We need to have more information from lawyers on the chances of success.

"There does seem to be at the moment a groundswell of support for taking this all the way, but we are not going to waste taxpayers' money lightly. We have to make a judgement when we have all the information."

To further complicate matters, the decision by county council Tories to charge Oxford residents for permits has been "called in" by a County Hall scrutiny committee.

This means it will be looked at again, but as the final decision is voted on by an all-Tory cabinet, it seems unlikely the original resolution will change.

Two thirds of residents quizzed on the permit proposals were against the plans to charge.

But David Robertson, county transport chief, said: "If the city council is prepared to spend money on a legal challenge, why didn't they come forward and agree to fund enforcement?

"As it stands at the moment, the decision has been taken."

Asked if he thought the issue would end up in court, county council leader Keith Mitchell said: "We'll wait and see."