A town has had to wait eight years to decide how to spend a 22,000 legacy.

The windfall was left to the people of Banbury in 1992 by Henry Franklyn - in memory of his parents Bert and Emily.

But legal difficulties involving the wording of the bequest put the money on hold for eight years.

One problem was a clause in the will stipulating that the legacy should go "via the borough mayor".

But Banbury Borough Council ceased to exist following local government reorganisation in 1974

And the Charter Trustees, who looked after the civic regalia and other town matters after reorganisation, had limited spending powers.

It was decided in 1992, after consultations with the executors of the will and other beneficiaries, that the money should be held by Cherwell District Council.

The situation changed in May this year when an independent Banbury Town Council was elected for the first time in 26 years, taking over from the trustees and appointing a town mayor. Since 1974, Banbury's mayor had been chosen by the district council.

Yesterday the town council's resources committee took the first steps towards getting the 21,940 legacy transferred from the district - and asked acting town clerk Peter Rooke to report on ways of spending the money.

The committee was told the Charter Trustees had suggested using the cash on a public art project and a piece of sculpture.