IF Oxford Mail hacks were in any doubt about how the Press are regarded, then we— along with many others—were swiftly reminded during the Mini plant Oxford’s Olympic torch celebrations.

The ‘holding pen’ from where scribes were allowed to watch the flame being passed from worker to worker doubled up as the plant’s bin store.

At least there was no favouritism shown as the Oxford Mail, the immaculately dressed reporters from ITV and BBC and a few seasoned freelancers were all sandwiched between the rank smelling wheelie bins and recycling cartons.

The photographers made the most of the situation, climbing on top of boxes (with scant regard for health and safety) to gain the best view in the house.

The rest simply dusted off their suits and held their tongues ...along with their noses.

IT SEEMS an unholy spat is brewing in leafy North Oxford or at the very least a pigeon palaver. It has been reported that Prof Richard Dawkins has objected to “bird deterrents” installed by a neighbour.

But it’s not just a plastic owl that has irked the arch atheist.

He is also furious about the Daily Telegraph’s coverage, which claimed he had championed pigeons as “national treasures”.

Prof Dawkins, pictured, told the Oxford Mail: “I gave him (the reporter) a soundbite: “Garden birds are a national treasure”, a sentiment with which, I suspect, most people, certainly most people who enjoy leafy North Oxford, would agree.

“The Telegraph saw fit to change this to "Pigeons are a national treasure”, a sentiment with which almost everybody, including me, would DISAGREE.”

Who said all God’s creatures were created equal?

COUNTY Hall was evacuated last week when the fire alarm at the county council’s New Road headquarters went off.

But relief washed through the crowds of workers when two or three members of the Fire and Rescue service filed out of the building and calmly walked towards the massed ranks.

However, it soon became clear they too had been ordered out of the building to keep them safe.

All's well that ends well though.

Two women in high visibility tabards armed with clipboards were on hand to reassure all it had just been a false alarm.