THE OWNERS of the Westgate centre have apologised after the sound of work from the building site drowned out the two-minute silence on Armistice Day.

Staff at the City of Oxford College said they were disturbed as they marked the two-minute silence at 11am on Friday.

Today owners of the shopping centre issued an apology and pledged to make a donation to the Royal British Legion to try and make amends.

Staff were among thousands of people on Friday at 11am paying their respects to the fallen in the two world wars and conflicts since.

The further education college in Oxpens Road is next to development site where a £440m revamp is taking place.

It will include a new John Lewis department store, 100 new shops, and create 1,000 new jobs but some construction workers have been criticised for failing to observe the two-minute silence.

Ian Harrison, a teacher employed by Activate Learning, which runs the college, said: “I work in the City of Oxford College next door to all the building work.

“We held a two-minute minute silence for Armistice Day at 11am attended by students and staff to remember those who have given their lives so we can live today.

“ I have to say that I am totally disgusted that the work force on the building site for the Westgate did not stop for two minutes.

All we could hear during the two-minute silence was the loud drilling, cutting and building sounds from the site.

“Whether you agree with Armistice Day or not is a personal choice and I respect that, but surly to ask for a two-minute silence from the building site is not too much to ask considering what others gave for us?”

Construction work at the Westgate Centre is expected to be completed by October 2017.

A spokeswoman for Westgate Oxford Alliance and Laing O’Rourke said: "We are sorry that we failed in our duty to mark the two-minute silence on Armistice Day. 

"Our whole team should have stood in silence out of respect for those who have fallen in combat. 

"At Westgate, we all place huge importance on the act of remembrance, and we regret that it was not observed in the appropriate manner on Friday.

"We will be making a donation to the British Legion, which we hope in some way demonstrates the great respect we have for those who served their country in many acts of heroism and bravery."