A mobile phone-cum-TV will be put on trial for the first time in Oxford.

The city has been selected by O2, in partnership with NTL Broadcast, for a trial of the latest mobile technology because it has the highest number of 02 users in the UK.

About 350 residents who use the 02 network will be picked by the company and asked to trade in their mobile phones for a new TV handset for six months.

The phone will pick up 16 digital TV channels including the Cartoon Network, the Discovery Channel, Sky News and Sky Sport News.

A spokesman for O2 said: "O2 users between the ages of 18-45 who live in the Oxford area will be chosen for the trial. It is likely those chosen make use of more of the functions on their phone than just calls and text messages.

"They will be charged their bill as normal but will not be charged for the TV service, which they will try out for six months."

Terry Howard, head of media business development at NTL Broadcast, said: "We know from our own research that well over half of UK mobile users are very interested in watching TV programmes on their mobiles, which is why we are aiming to put together such a compelling channel line-up.

"This trial will give an insight into how the new technology performs, and we will use that information to inform the broadcasters, mobile operators and Ofcom about its consumer appeal. We look forward to welcoming other channel providers on board for the trial."