Forty people took part in a ceremony at Oxford Town Hall today to become British citizens.

They included Dana Artene, 11, from Wallingford, who was the 5,000th person to become a British citizen since the ceremonies started in the county five years ago.

The ceremony was scheduled to take place on St George’s Day after Keith Mitchell, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council, suggested it would be an appropriate way of marking the day of national celebration.