THE first casino in Oxfordshire could be opened in a country club a few miles north of Oxford.

Hotel owner Anthony Lavin wants to create a casino, with up to 10 gaming tables, in part of his Oxfordshire Inn at Heathfield, near Bletchingdon.

Mr Lavin, who lives in Yorkshire, is adding six bedrooms to his 10-bedroom pub.

In addition he has plannning approval for a further 55 bedrooms, which would make the pub/restaurant into a hotel.

The pub was previously known as The Crumpled Horn.

Carl Middleditch, architect and planning consultant for Mr Lavin, said: "The casino would be in the existing function room and would probably have nine to 10 tables.

"I think it would be the first casino in Oxfordshire. I believe the nearest casino is in Coventry."

The neighbouring Heathfield House nursing home is not owned by Mr Lavin and is not part of the project. Mr Middleditch said the road from Heathfield, close to the Bletchingdon/ Islip flyover on the A34, would be improved as part of the plan, submitted to Cherwell District Council.

Bletchingdon Parish Council chairman Chris Lane said parish councillors would be discussing the scheme when it met next week on April 29.

Mr Lane added: "As the casino would be so close to the A34, we would not expect much traffic impact on the village, which is at least a mile away."