OASIS star Noel Gallagher has the world at his finger tips when it comes to choosing a venue to pen his band's next million-selling album.

But rather than New York, Paris or London, the Oxford Mail can reveal Noel has chosen Chipping Norton as the ideal place for a spot of song- writing.

The guitarist for the raucous Manchester rockers is staying at the Chipping Norton Recording Studios while he seeks inspiration for the follow-up to last year's record-breaking Be Here Now album.

Since his arrival on Tuesday, people in the quiet Cotswold town have been gobsmacked to see a superstar pop into their local newsagents.

Vernon Aldridge, of Dunstan Avenue, took a double take after Noel came into John Menzies, in High Street, yesterday and bought a copy of The Sun.

Mr Aldridge, 46, said: "I've got a few Oasis records and I recognised him straight away. The girl behind the counter was a bit star-struck - she was certain it was him."

The New Street recording studios, in New Street, have previously played host to rockers from Status Quo to Radiohead. Noel is booked in at one of their 14 residential rooms until tomorrow.

Studio owner Richard Vernon said Noel was not using the studios for recording - and there will be no sign of more outrageous brother Liam or the rest of Oasis.

He said: "He has just come to do some songwriting. It is great for the studio but I fear the repercussions of it being surrounded by fans. He has come here for the privacy so I hope people will respect that."

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