Teddy boys were blamed for much of the violence which marred Guy Fawkes Night celebrations in Oxford 50 years ago.

November 5, 1957 was described as the worst for trouble for several years.

The Oxford Mail reported: "The crowd which milled around the centre of the city was made up, for the most part, of youths, many of them of the Teddy Boy type, and their girlfriends.

"Bottles and stones were thrown at the Randoph Hotel by a yelling mob.

"Damage to windows and a grille across the front entrance was estimated by the management at £100.

"Four policemen guarding the hotel had a narrow escape when they were almost swept under the crowd as it surged forward, apparently to rescue a young girl, who had been taken inside to have her name and address verified.

"A car was overturned in St Aldate's and petrol from the tank, which flowed down the gutter, was set on fire.

"An 18-year-old youth was knocked down and trampled on and taken to the Radcliffe Infirmary with a leg injury.

"The crowd estimated at 1,000 surged along Cornmarket Street and gathered outside the new Woolworth's store.

"One man who snatched a policeman's helmet was brought down with a flying tackle by another police officer and marched off to the temporary police station at the Town Hall.

"A bus had panels on its side kicked in and windows broken."

Oxford City Police had cancelled all leave for regular officers and had every available special constable on duty.

The various units kept in touch with each other, and headquarters, by walkie-talkie radio.

Fourteen people were arrested, including five undergraduates, and appeared before Oxford magistrates on assault and public order charges.

In an editorial, under the headline, Teddy Boys' picnic, the Mail said: "The Fifth of November used to be the occasion for a good-natured rag, but has become a night out for the rowdies.

"For the police, it is ceasing to be a joke. They now have to cope with an ugly bunch."