THE Oxford Mail is beginning to attract criticism for its recent reporting of local government affairs.

That's not surprising, as the news we have brought you has not reflected well on our elected representatives.

The saga of Cornmarket Street, £1m 'found' in a bank account, £11m worth of accounting discrepancies and now £1m 'lost' somewhere in the chaotic system.

With local elections just around the corner, no wonder councillors are unhappy about all the publicity. And boy, are they starting to bleat.

The Mail has been accused of having a "hidden agenda" and of being "sensationalist." We've also been told that we just don't understand the complexities of local government finance. On recent evidence, neither do the people who run it!

This is our money we are talking about here. Yes, we have an agenda but there is nothing hidden about it.

It is our responsibility to hold a watching brief on how our elected men and women run our affairs, how they spend our money on the services we are entitled to have.

If we can borrow a quote from county leader Keith Mitchell, it is our job to report that "every time we pick up a stone, we find something unpleasant under it".

Mr Mitchell has been big enough to stand up and take the stick and attempt to explain the issues behind the current problems. The same cannot be said of some of his colleagues.

There's no point in politicians shooting themselves in the foot - and then blaming the Press for pulling the trigger.

Their wounds are entirely self-inflicted. We just hope the county recovers from them in time.