Sir - Over the May Bank Holiday we visited Oxford, a stay which had been planned several months ago and, despite the rain, enjoyed the trip.

The Randolph accommodation and service were excellent, the colleges a delight to see and people warmly welcoming.

But, we were disgusted by the 'gooey carpet' of what appeared to be chewing gum on sidewalks and pedestrian malls and many drains were blocked causing flooding which made our feet even wetter.

So we left with the impression that your council has no pride in the city's appearance and does not care about the comfort and convenience of residents and tourists.

Michael Hensby, Montreal, Canada