WORKMEN sailed down the side of one of Oxford’s tower blocks as a £15m project to refurbish them was launched.

Hockmore Tower in Cowley was the first of the city’s five tower blocks to be inspected by a team of abseiling contractors yesterday.

The inspection was carried out by a firm called Martech and Kevin Lyon, one of the workmen, said it had gone well. He said: “It was quite successful, it’s all done now so we’ve got four more to do.

“It’s early days yet but generally it appears to be in quite good condition, especially considering its age.”

Inspections of the other blocks will follow later.