FORECASTERS might be predicting snow for tomorrow but the flowers at Harcourt Arboretum have been blossoming.

Colourful shrubs and petals are beginning to bloom at the Oxford University site, including the Chinese Witch Hazel.

Employee Luke Rowland said: “It’s quite nice that there’s still a bit of colour in the arboretum, following on from autumn. The flowers have appeared in the last couple of weeks.”

Light snow is forecast today, followed by heavy snowfall in the county tomorrow. And yesterday flood alerts were in place across Oxfordshire. The Environment Agency issued alerts for the River Thames, affecting Oxford and including areas between Wolvercote, Radley and Jericho.

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It said recent rainfall had caused river levels to rise, warning low-lying land and roads could be flooded.

But properties are not expected to be flooded.

A further alert was issued for the River Thames from Buscot Wick down to Kings Lock, covering Buscot, Kelmscott, Radcot, Chimney, Northmoor, Stanton Harcourt, Bablock Hythe and its caravan park, Eynsham, Swinford and Yarnton.

There was also an alert in place for the River Cherwell from Lower Heyford down to Oxford, including Rousham, Enslow, Thrupp and Hampton Poyle.

Other rivers in danger of flooding include the Windrush from Bourton to Newbridge, Ginge Brook, the Evenlode from Moreton-in-Marsh to Cassington and the Glyme at Wootton and Woodstock. Alerts also apply to the Ock from Watchfield to Abingdon, and the Letcombe Brook at Wantage, Grove and East Hanney.


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