RESIDENTS in Deddington have complained about their local wood being used for inappropriate “sexual encounters”.

Banbury police sergeant Rebecca Fishwick told a parish council meeting she had received complaints about Daeda’s Wood and its gated road being used as a “cruising site” for sexual activity on a 24-hour basis.

Sgt Fishwick said: “Police are aware of anti-social behaviour in the woods at Deddington and are working closely with local partners to tackle this and help ensure that this area of woodland is available to be used by local residents.

“We have put in place extra police patrols and are working with local partners to look at ways to make it more open and accessible.”

She said the matter would be kept under review by officers, and that any information should be reported straight to the police.

Villager Annette Murphy wrote in the Deddington News: “It would be a shame if people avoided walking in the wood because of the activities of a very small number of people who have been behaving inappropriately at times.”

She added that the Woodland Trust, which manages the site, had placed large branches blocking access to part of the river to act as a deterrent.

The trust was unavailable for comment.