A COWLEY recycling bank blighted by old clothes, rubbish and shoes has been closed down.

Donation banks at Oxford Retail Park have been stuffed with old garments and the area around littered with flytipping waste over the past few months.

Oxford City Council and Tesco have decided to close the 'eyesore' which they said has become a 'magnet' for flytipping.

The council said its staff had been clearing the rubbish from the Ambassador Avenue site every day and it was costing around £18,000 a year.

It will be closed from February 5 and fenced off with council officers increasing patrols in the area to prevent more flytipping. 

The city council's board member for a 'Clean and Green' Oxford, John Tanner, said: "The council's staff have had to visit the site every day to monitor and clear rubbish.

"And despite their efforts we have consistently been receiving complaints about fly tipping.

"The Ambassador Avenue site remains an eyesore."

Mr Tanner added: "Fly tipping is illegal and there are adequate, convenient, disposal options in Oxford that mean it's totally unnecessary.

"I appeal to the public to dispose of their rubbish in a responsible way.”