ONE of the new trains which began operating through Oxford last week has been named after the author of Paddington Bear.

The fleet of bi-mode Intercity Express trains started running on the London Paddington to Hereford route - via Oxford on January 2.

One of the trains was officially named Michael Bond, after the Paddington Bear author as the famous book turns 60 later this year.

The naming took place yesterday at London Paddington on the day Mr Bond would have turned 92 in a ceremony which featured his wife Sue.

The bi-mode trains, running between Great Malvern, Worcester and Oxford will switch to diesel engine while travelling through Oxford due to delays to electrification.