EACH year the May Morning closure of Magdalen Bridge appears increasingly heavy-handed.

The bridge closure cut offs East Oxford from the rest of the city and has the ability to hype up an event that, by and large, passes without incident.

Yes, a handful of idiots decide to throw themselves from the bridge, but they do that whether the police erect a ring of steel or not.

Yesterday, the authorities decided to shut the bridge for a further three years, at great expense and at the expense of those unfortunate enough to live beyond The Plain.

For years, and through no fault of their own, they have been unable to participate in an event that should be open to all.

Each year the police close the bridge and each year, after they have reopened it and as the large crowds drift way, a few students jump into the shallow River Cherwell.

It has happened for years — and it will happen for years to come.

Why don’t the authorities adopt an altogether more relaxed approach and just let the revellers get on with it — and save some money to boot?