AN ESTIMATED two million people have been shown around Oxford by members of a tour guiding organisation that is celebrating it 35th anniversary this summer.

The Oxford Guild of Guides started in 1980 and was thought to be the only such group working in the city at the time.

There are now 61 tour guides in the guild, aged from late 20s to some in their 70s, who work tirelessly to show visitors all of the spectacular sights and sounds of Oxford.

Oxford Guild of Guides administrator Susie Medley said: “We have been welcoming people from all over the world every day of the week over the past 35 years, which makes 12,775 days of guiding.

“For a group of about 60 of us, that is pretty good going and we are going to continue to welcome people with open arms for many more years to come. It is quite an achievement.”

The guild works throughout the city to provide an introduction to Oxford, offering city and university tours, tours to famous locations used in films as well as tailor made tours at the request of visitors.

Some of the most popular current tours include the Inspector Morse and Harry Potter ones. Ghost tours also proved popular.

Others undertaken by the organisation can range from garden tours to the famous backdrops for detective drama Lewis.

The guild offers up to four tours a day at high season and two during low season for people who walk in and book at the Visitor Information Centre in Broad Street, alongside the many more that are pre-booked.

The Oxford Guild of Guides works with the Lord Mayor of Oxford Rae Humberstone as its patron and he was invited to a special birthday get together at Oxford New College’s cloisters to mark the milestone.

Mrs Medley added: “It was absolutely fantastic to have him there and he made it clear just how supportive of us he is.

“We are grateful to have a patron who recognises the vital work that we do for the city.”

In order to join the guild, prospective guides have to undergo training which includes attending lectures on Oxford’s history and they are required to learn specific facts back from before Saxon times to today.