FURIOUS residents in Witney have urged a housing association to slam on the brakes after it hiked up the rental cost of garages by more than double.

People living in the Smiths Estate were paying £30 per month to rent out a garage near their home for cars and other storage.

But they were shocked when housing association Sanctuary sent out a letter informing them the price had risen to about £67 per month.

Anne Hale, who lives in Windrush Valley Road, said: "I looked at the letter and thought they must have made a terrible mistake. So I phoned and asked to speak to the accounts manager. I asked them if they had mad an error but they said categorically, no.

"I said 'excuse me? This is double the charge.' I asked if they could negotiate but they said no.

"They said this is the price, take it or leave it.

"The thing that really upset me was that they wouldn't even talk about it - I was flabbergasted."

Mrs Hale, 67, first moved into Smiths estate in 1968 when she and husband Robert worked at Smiths Industries.

Now both retired, they moved elsewhere in the county for several years before returning to the estate in 1992 and have been in the same property in Windrush Valley Road ever since.

They have since been on the phone to district councillor Andrew Coles, who wrote to Sanctuary to ask them to postpone the price rise so residents could have a say.

Mr Coles said: "I reiterated the significant problems of parking on the estate which will be made so much worse if residents are forced to give up their garages and park on the road instead.

"Some residents have confirmed they are giving up their garages.

"It would be much fairer if the increase could be staggered over three years or so rather than doubling the cost immediately causing financial difficulties to many residents in what are already tough times."

Spokeswoman for Sanctuary Housing Amy Weiser said: "This is the first time we have reviewed rates for garage rentals taking into account local private competitors’ rates in the surrounding market, and the increases are to help bring costs more in line with the average for the area."

Windrush Close resident Debbie Luxton also rents a garage where she keeps her car and her 25-year-old son's motorbike.

She said she was "stunned" when she heard about the price rise.

Ms Luxton said: "I've lived here eight years and I hired a garage two years ago.

"It's always been £28.90 for me, but now it's gone up to £62. It's a national thing and it's just a bit of a shock.

"There were rumours going round the estate that Sanctuary was going to knock down the garages and build on them, but they've denied that."