We will be surprised if Oxford doesn't land at least one award in the Great Street and Great Place of the Year competition.

Oxford Castle is an outstanding example of how the old can be moulded with the new.

Our other nominee, Oxford High Street, has long been regarded as one of Europe's finest, with its historic buildings and graceful curve.

But we hope the judges will look up rather than down.

The clutter of road signs and the fact that The High at times looks like a glorified bus station may go against it.