Gangs of drunken teenagers converging in an Oxford park are causing a major headache for people living nearby.

Oxford City Council stopped locking Bury Knowle Park, in London Road, Headington, three years ago, and residents claim it has now become a hotbed for anti- social behaviour.

Lucinda Hawley, 29, of Old High Street, said: "I just can't understand why the council aren't closing the gates.

"We are getting a real traffic of people and gangs of teenagers walking past our house at night.

"The other evening we had someone throw an egg at our window.

"Your first reaction is to go to the door and shout at them, but you don't dare to these days."

Mrs Hawley's neighbour Anne Deakin, 80, said: "As soon as I realised they were being left open at night I knew it would be a recipe for trouble.

"I take my dog for a walk every evening and you can see groups of teenagers in the park and it is starting to become a real concern."

On the other side of the park, in Chestnut Avenue, six cars were vandalised two weeks ago by a gang of youths seen leaving the park in the early hours.

Brian Jordan, 66, who lives in Chestnut Avenue, had £400 of damage done to his car.

He said: "These kids are sitting in the park getting drunk, and then wandering out of the gates and are causing all sorts of trouble.

"We need these gates locking."

In March the Oxford Mail reported that elderly residents of the North Place retirement community believed a spate of thefts was down to the gates being left open.

Eileen Ridley, 73, who lives in North Place, said: "I would like to see these gates being locked - it would make us all feel a lot safer."

Pc Miles said: "I am liaising with council officials and in particular the park rangers, to discuss possible solutions.

"We are already providing more high visibility patrols in the area, especially as the nights start to draw in with the arrival of autumn."

A spokesman for the city council said: "The decision to stop locking Bury Knowle Park was taken in 2004 and we do not currently have the resources to lock it every night.

"We will look at the area around the fountain to see whether any work needs to be carried out."