Wages in Oxfordshire have risen by 2.9 per cent in the last year, according to the latest Government figures.

Average pay before tax for the county is now £24,856 compared to £25,142 for the south east and a national rate of £24,301.

The figures for Cherwell were £22,758 (up 0.4 per cent); Oxford, £25,565 (up 1.8 per cent); South Oxfordshire £24,651 (up 9.9 per cent) and Vale of White Horse £26,822 (up 4.8 per cent).

But West Oxfordshire saw a drop of 3.1 per cent in gross annual pay to £22,850.