Two women police support officers being filmed for a TV show about their work in Oxford had to call for back-up when an incident turned nasty.

Natalie Williams and Rachel Semczyszyn radioed for support when an argument broke out between a group of youths and the camera crew working on the documentary.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said that it was "a difficult situation" and that officers were investigating whether public order offences were committed.

The two PCSOs work in Barton and are appearing in an ITV fly-on-the-wall documentary called Beat: Life on the Street.

Nine PCSOs who work in Barton, Blackbird Leys and East Oxford are being featured during 10 weeks of filming.

Ms Semczyszyn said: "Both of us are okay, but we have been advised not to comment on the incident."

It happened at about 5.30pm on Friday as the officers and film crew were near the estate's shops in Underhill Circus.

The police spokesman said a group of youths had surrounded the PCSOs and crew while they were filming and that "an altercation" broke out between one of the cameramen and the youths.

He said: "The PCSOs called for assistance and police officers attended and calmed it all down. The incident is being reviewed to see if any public order offences need sorting out.

"Nothing was stolen and nothing was damaged, but it was clearly a difficult situation. No-one has been arrested at this stage."

An estate resident, who did not want to be named, said: "It looked like the two support officers got chased off.

"It doesn't surprise me. There was another incident later that night when a mob of youths jumped up and down on the roof of some chap's Vauxhall car.

"I suppose it's good they're making a film, but in reality, you never see a copper on the streets."

The owner of the fish and chip shop in Underhill Circus, who declined to be named, said up to 30 youths were involved in an argument with police. He said the youths dispersed but some returned later and appeared drunk.

Sue Holden, who lives above the shops, said if there had been a major disturbance she would have heard it.

Her friend June Kuffour, from Stowford Road, said she heard nothing and no-one was talking about any serious incident.

Mrs Holden said: "It's another story that gives Barton a bad reputation. We have our troubles like many other places, but there's a lot of good things go on here. I've lived here for 34 years. It's a great place, with a lot of very good people."

No-one from the TV crew was available to talk about the incident.

Police confirmed that a car was damaged by youths in Barton Village Road just after 11pm on Friday. No arrests have been made.