A 'NEW type of politics' has been given the seal of approval from a group of strangers who gathered to air their views on Brexit - and were surprised by the results.

On a chilly Tuesday night 30 ordinary people from across Oxford gathered in Blackbird Leys Community Centre to discuss how society should look after June 23.

Six months on from the historic vote many participants admitted feeling frustrated and apprehensive about what the future would hold outside of the EU.

At the same time group members put forward a plethora of ideas for change, centred around better education and consultation focused on the young.

Sociologist and political scientist Professor Colin Crouch had been invited by organisers the New Weather Institute to open the discussion.

As the evening drew to a close he said: "This evening we have seen politics and passion together, as they ought to be.

"We have had reasonable debate the whole time but there has been passion in favour of inclusiveness, and to get past divisiveness and isolationism."

Residents from Blackbird Leys spoke candidly to visitors about their experiences dealing with racism around Oxford in the fall-out from Brexit.

At the same time concerns were raised over low educational attainment and insufficient jobs in Oxford itself.

One participant from the Leys warned of the possibility of a 'brain drain' if issues around university admissions and job opportunities were not addressed close to home.

Visitors from all corners of the city, from North Oxford to Cowley, the Said Business School to The Oxford Academy, also spoke extensively of the 'town and gown' divide.

In Oxford this was keenly felt in the aftermath of the referendum as it transpired that about 55 per cent of people in Blackbird Leys, Greater Leys and Lye Valley, as well as large proportions of Rose Hill, Barton, Northway and Cowley, had voted Leave, in stark contrast to the rest of the city, which overwhelmingly voted Remain.

Cowley resident Mubeen Ashraf, who attended with her young son, said her family had felt 'worried' after the vote but the evening had been 'really useful' for them both.

She said: "We need more think-tanks and focus groups in Oxford after Brexit. It will aid social cohesion.

"Having the opportunity to air your voice is something we don't have a lot of at the moment and a lot of people were feeling that on the evening, and were very appreciative.

"There was a feeling that we were on the same page, as people that had not met before and just attended from a leaflet. It was quite surprising.

"The problem is that 'town' has a confidence issue. When you have the opportunity to sit around a table and speak, you gain confidence."

The results of the 'listening event' will be summarised in a report by the New Weather Institute and sent to MPs as well as the Prime Minister.

It is hoped that the model - which saw complete strangers divided into groups to discuss a chosen theme, with notes taken - could be used elsewhere in Oxford.

Organiser Lindsay Mackie said: "We want to build on whatever it was that happened last night. It was a start.

"We are so used to being given ideas from politicians or think-tanks; there's a prescription that goes on. But if you provide a listening space people will do the rest.

"For us, it was really instructive. We thought 'yes, this is how we want to work, and everybody here is making that possible'.

"You want to be collaborative and co-operative, and see how we can fit in. It's a nascent political feeling but it's there. I don't think old politics has allowed for that."

Some residents of Blackbird Leys said more consultative events of this nature should be held closer to home, more of the time.

Ignacio Du Santos, who is about to return to East Timor after a long spell on the estate, said: "It has been a really good opportunity to hear from other people.

"I've been living here for five years and I contribute, but I don't really contribute to the community.

"Things will be sorted out as smoothly as possible because this country is great, and people are civilised. Things like hatred and Islamophobia will reduce.

"Good people are more than bad people and as long as you educate those people, they will behave. We need to recognise that we aren't alone in this world."