A company which dug up one of Oxford's major roads, causing long delays to traffic, has donated £1,000 to a community group to thank it for its support.

Traffic queues in Cowley Road during the work in August

The money, donated by gas pipeline network operator Transco, was given to East Oxford Action for its co-operation during the work, which saw parts of Cowley Road being dug up while gas mains were renewed.

The money will help buy a public address system for carnivals and other events.

In August the Oxford Mail reported that bus passengers complained a five-mile bus journey across Oxford had taken one hour, 20 minutes to complete, because of the work.

Temporary traffic lights were installed at the bottom of High Street, in Cowley Road and Hollow Way, Cowley.

Transco's network operations manager Tony Kavanagh said: "We cannot praise East Oxford Action highly enough.

"Our job can be tough at times and they were always on hand to help us with local contacts, to keep business owners informed and to help us do the job smoothly."

East Oxford Action is an independent social enterprise organisation, responsible for the Cowley Road Carnival, as well as getting Internet access for 1,000 people and building the Manzil Gardens park.

Director Zoe Brooks said: "The money is brilliant. The PA system will be really useful at the carnival."