OXFORD and five Oxfordshire towns are set to receive a £10,000 boost each from the government.

Carterton, Chipping Norton, Faringdon, Abingdon and Didcot will get the cash after being selected with Oxford to join the national Town Team partners programme, which came out of the review by shopping guru Mary Portas into the future of high street shopping. In addition to the grants, Oxford and the towns will have access to Government support, including an advice line and a network of advisers, run by the Association of Town Centre Management, as well as key informative events.

They will also have direct mentoring and visits from a range of retail experts, and membership of an online community to receive advice and information from retail experts.

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price said: “We are very pleased Oxford has been recognised for the work it is doing to boost the retail presence in the city. We hope to continue the process of developing the Westgate shopping centre and improving pedestrianisation in the centre.”