OXFORD enjoyed the fourth biggest employment growth in the country at the end of last year following the opening of the Westgate Centre.

The city's consumer sector grew by 2.8 per cent in the final quarter of last year , behind York, Stoke-on-Trent and inner London.

The research conducted by law firm Irwin Mitchell and the Centre for Economics and Business Research revealed that both Oxford and Cambridge - 2.6 per cent rise - were on the up when it came to growth in the consumer sector.

It looked at job growth in the retail, leisure, tourism, food and drink industries.

CEO of the firm's business legal services division, Victoria Brackett, said: "Our latest report makes very good reading for the UK’s most famous university towns.

"Both Oxford and Cambridge are not only experiencing growth in the consumer sector, but in other industries too, which in turn will be driving consumer spending.

She added: "The report also notes how Oxford is the city with the most open space which can be used for active leisure, and also dedicated active leisure facilities.

"Tourists and residents alike can use these spaces to take part in group activities and sports."