AN INVESTIGATION into reports of a woman being raped in a Deddington churchyard has now been closed, Thames Valley Police said.

Following the allegations made in June this year, the force concluded no offence had been committed.

Police were called to St Peter and St Paul Church in Church Street in the early hours of June 21 where they found a 25-year-old woman.

The incident came just hours after the final acts of this year’s Deddington Music Festival, which finished at 11pm, had performed in the market square.

Following the incident police made an appeal for witnesses, including a man who was seen with the alleged victim near the church shortly before police were called.

They did not say if the man was previously known to the woman, and they sent extra officer patrols into the village to reassure residents.

Deputy Sergeant Richard Pickering of Banbury CID also said at the time that the police were conducting CCTV enquiries to help identify the man.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Gareth Ford-Lloyd said: “There has been a thorough investigation and police have concluded that no offence took place and the case is now closed.”

Police said no action would be taken against the alleged victim, but declined to say why she had not been prosecuted.