WORK has begun to create a new car park in Blackbird Leys in an attempt to ease the estate's 'chronic' parking problems.

Diggers are on site in Field Avenue where a grass verge is being converted into new 'landscaped' parking spaces for residents.

Some 13 more spaces will be created along with more cycle parking in the £121,000 scheme.

It is one of a number of similar initiatives with more car parks planned or already installed in nearby roads Briar Way, Blackbird Leys Road, Rampion Close and Jasmine Way.

Oxford City Council has been using money from the 'Great Estates' programme which aims to improve the city's estates.

It comes after parking on the estate became so bad that fears were raised that emergency services could be blocked from attending to incidents.

Many residents already use the grass verges for 'informal' parking with many households possessing two-three cars each.

Workers from nearby businesses also use the estate to park when at work.

Councillor Linda Smith said the works prove the council 'listens to residents and invests to improve neighbourhoods'.