Burger fans across the city and beyond have been relishing the reopening of one of Oxford's legendary eateries.

Peppers Burgers, in Walton Street, Jericho, has thrown open its doors once again after mysteriously shutting up shop last summer.

Scores of people - some from as far afield as America and Eastern Europe - were outraged by the closure of the popular take- away and even campaigned for it to be reopened.

In the space of a fortnight last summer, more than 300 Peppers Burgers fans from around the world were chatting on website forums about how they would struggle to cope without the shop's much-loved burgers.

So it has come as a huge relief to Peppers lovers that the shop is now back in business.

Before closing last summer, it had been serving up its flamegrilled-fayre for more than 25 years and had gained a cult following.

Anthony Brown, 34, of Cutteslowe, and girlfriend Anna Butler - who are both vegetarians - were regulars at Peppers until last summer.

Mr Brown said: "I'm really pleased Peppers has returned and we have already been back in twice.

"It's a special place. I had my first Peppers 19 years ago and it's never failed to disappoint. After it closed I didn't think I'd missed it that much, but it wasn't until we went back in a few days ago I realised I definitely had. Peppers has seen me through my days as a veggie and as a meat-eater."

Sandy Franklin, of Kennington, had been going to Peppers with husband Richard for as long as it had been open.

She said: "This is brilliant news for Peppers fans. We thought we'd seen the end of Peppers and had been hopelessly trying - and failing - to find an alternative which was half as good."

New owner Ali Ashraf, who part-owns nearby Indian restaurant The Bombay, said he had been "overwhelmed" by the response to the burger bar reopening.

He said: "I knew Peppers was popular, but I didn't realise it had such a huge following nor how much it means to people."

Mr Ashraf put in a bid for the shop in February. It was previously owned by Oxford maths graduate Peter Triggs who has since retired to his native Canada.

Mr Ashraf said: "I was tempted to change the name and try something new, but after speaking to local people I realised it was better to keep it just as it was.

"We are using the same suppliers, the same burgers and the same local produce as before. I just hope we can match what Peter did."