A car sparked a terror alert in Bicester after shoppers noticed threatening notes plastered across its windscreen.

Police cordoned off part of the town's Market Square for more than two hours yesterday after receiving a call from a worried shopkeeper.

The French-registered white Renault car had stickers on the dashboard containing threatening messages.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Vicky Brandon said: "There were stickers on the car and offensive notes with a terrorist theme."

The car has been seized and taken away for further examined, but nothing suspicious has yet been found.

Police said a 50-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of public order offences.