Primark and Sports Direct along with two local businesses have been shamed by the Government for not paying staff the minimum wage.

The fashion firm, which recently moved from Queen Street to open in the new Westgate Centre, failed to pay £231,000 to 9735 workers across the country.

Sports Direct, with stores in Cowley, Banbury, Bicester and Seacourt Retail Park, failed to pay £167,000 to 383 workers.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has released the names of 260 companies nationwide who have underpaid more than 16,000 workers - to the tune of £1.7m.

It added that investigators had fined employers £1.3m for underpayment.

Two Oxfordshire businesses were named on the Government's 'naughty list'.

Few Inns Limited, trading as The Boot Inn in Witney, failed to pay £1,820 to one worker.

Nikole Rosicova, manager at the pub, told the Oxford Mail she had only been in her role since this summer and was not aware of the details of the underpayment. 

She did, however, say: “I cannot say it didn’t happen, but in the time I’ve been here everybody has had proper wages. 

“I’ve heard stories before and have been working in hospitality so it’s something that’s happened to me before as well. 

“We only have four staff in here so it’s not too hard for me to keep an eye on that.”

The company also runs The Black Horse in Standlake. 

Home care agency Premier Personal Care was also named, after failing to pay £188 to three workers.

Common reasons for errors made include: failing to pay workers travelling between jobs, deducting money from pay for uniforms and not paying for overtime.

Business Minister Margot James said: "There is no excuse for not paying staff the wages they’re entitled to and the government will come down hard on businesses that break the rules.

"That’s why today we are naming hundreds of employers who have been short changing their workers; and to ensure there are consequences for their wallets as well as their reputation, we’ve levied millions in back pay and fines."

Current National Minimum Wage

For 21 to 24-year-olds: £7.05 per hour

For 18 to 20-year olds: £5.60 per hour

For 16 to 17-year-olds: £4.05 per hour

For apprentices under 19, or over 19 and in the first year of an apprenticeship: £3.50 per hour.