The present is dead and buried in the cemetery of an Oxfordshire village - gone into the future and not to be revived for 100 years.

A bright-yellow sealed time capsule packed full of mementoes to reflect life in the village of Radley, near Abingdon, has been buried 3ft under ground.

The capsule is the final part of the village's Millennium celebrations and what Parish Council chairman David Buckle described as an "historic" point in the village.

He said: "This will be opened in 100 years time and the people of Radley will have an interesting insight into what life was like in the village today."

A wide range of paper and photographic records are stored in the capsule. There are Parish Council and church records and details of all groups and organisations; three editions of the Abingdon Herald and a copy of the Oxford Times 100 famous characters of Oxfordshire.

Also inside is a Millennium China Mug; a copy of the history of Radley College; a box of trinkets and coins and a photograph of the children at Radley primary school.

And according to Brian Mott, the chairman of the Millennium events committee, some children might be around in 100 years time when the capsule is dug up and opened.

Addressing the children who had gathered for the ceremony, Mr Mott said: "With such fast progress in science and medicine it is possible that some of you may be here when it is time to re-open the capsule.

"Certainly some of your children will be here."

The plastic capsule is an adapted length of tubing used for gas mains and was prepared by Transco engineers Gary Tizzard and Nigel Herring who lowered the heavy container into the burial plot.

A plaque will be made to mark the spot and with instructions not to excavate the capsule until 2101.

The vicar of Radley the Rev Tom Gibbons said: "One-hundred years seems a very long time to us but in God's sight it is just a fleeting second."