The Lord Mayor of Oxford sampled a slice of life at a new-look Oxford street.

Carole Roberts helped cut a cake at Bertie Place to mark the completion of a £1.27m scheme to replace poisoned soil.

She was joined by local children who have seen their street completely transformed over the past ten months.

Mrs Roberts also chatted to residents who have endured living in one of Oxford's most notorious street since mercury, arsenic and lead were discovered in the soil in March,1996.

The city council borrowed more than £1m to pay for the soil replacement programme - which also affected houses in Abingdon Road. Residents had their gardens completely uprooted and re-designed as part of the scheme.

Mrs Roberts, who as chairman of the city council's housing committee had a major role in the crisis, said: "The people in this area have been through a lot. I am delighted that the work is complete."

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