A PETITION has called for an 'Oxford weighting' on salaries to help recruit and retain hospital staff.

The online petition - which has reached more than 1,400 signatures - calls for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust staff to be paid more because of the housing cost in Oxford.

Update: More than 4,600 signatures had been reached as of January 13

It claims large numbers of OUH staff have had to move further out of the city incruing more travelling costs.

It also said staff who stayed close to the hospitals struggling to afford rent and many were forced into hospital accommodation.

Last year the average price of a house in Oxford rose to £415,000 - well above the UK average of £280,000.

To sign the petition go to petition.parliament.uk/petitions/206280