High water levels which saw parts of the River Thames towpath in Oxford flooded and impassable are expected to start receding over the weekend.

The Environment Agency said the river had reached its peak at 2am yesterday morning and remained high throughout the day.

Spokesman Chris Mitchell said: "The river is stabilising and the water levels are gradually going to fall throughout the day and through to next week."

But he warned flooded fields near to the river will still be water-logged for at least a week.

He said: "In areas that are flooded it will take about a week for those waters to clear because the ground is so saturated.

"They will probably recede quicker the closer they are to the river but any fields which were flooded will take considerably longer."

The rate of flow peaked at 155.5 cubic metres per second but had dropped to just under 150 cubic metres per second by 2pm yesterday.

The speed of the water was at almost four times the average for March and believed to be one of the highest levels recorded since the city was hit by major flooding in 2003.

Oxford was still on flood watch last night and people are being warned to stay away from the river's edge. A more serious flood alert has not been issued.

Parts of the towpath, near Osney Lock and at Port Meadow, were still under water and warning signs have been put up to advise people using the path to take extra care.

Mr Mitchell said: "If the towpath is dry it should be fine but if it is flooded we would not advise you to wade through it because you don't know what the flow is going to be like and there may be hidden dangers underneath."