New powers to tackle graffiti on Oxford's historic colleges are being drawn up by city officials.

The agreement, between Oxford City Council and Oxford University, is being thrashed out to cut clean up times and improve the city's image.

The idea was originally mooted earlier this year - but concerns about the treatment of listed college walls, some dating back to the Middle Ages, was one of the main stalling points.

The new deal would mirror arrangements proposed between the council and utility companies - agreements that have not yet been signed despite months of negotiations.

City councillor Richard Huzzey welcomed the renewed push to tackle vandalism on college walls.

He said: "At Blue Boar Street, at the back of Christ Church College, the wall is covered in graffiti and has been for ages.

"It is very slow to get it cleaned off. It's not good for tourism, residents and people visiting the city centre.

"Graffiti is the first sign of things being a bit grim."

He said the current situation, where the council needed to contact the individual colleges for permission to clean off graffiti, was far too slow.

He said: "We are now getting round the table and something positive will come out of it."

Labour city councillor Susanna Pressel also welcomed the talks with the university.

But she said agreements with external companies and organisations were taking far too long to put in place.

She said: "This has taken many months and we have asked again and again for the process to be speeded up."

"The roadside utility boxes look horrible with flyposters partially torn off.

"We have an agreement with BT but not with any of the other utility companies."

"It is really silly having to go back to everyone each time."