YOU can still map out what Oxford means to you for the chance to win a prize.

Landmarks and hidden gems from across the city have been illustrated in all sorts of ways as designs pour in for 'Oxford – My Treasure Island'.

The competition, which is part of the Oxford Mail and city council's Rediscover Oxford campaign, invites people to create a map of their favourite city centre spots.

It closes on Monday, October 19 and Mary Clarkson, the council's board member for the city centre, Covered Market and culture, was unsurprised to see a wide range of entries.

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She said: "Oxford means a lot of things to a lot of different people.

"Huge numbers of people have come here from all over the world and made it their home.

"You can be almost anywhere in the world and someone has heard of Oxford, but there are so many hidden places.

"It's amazing how much variety there is here."

Oxford Mail:

While the city is not short of world-famous locations, entrants are encouraged to include lesser-known spots that mean something to them.

This might be a favourite restaurant or shop, or, like Mrs Clarkson, a place of family importance – like the wooden gates on the corner of Ship Street and Turl Street that were built by her grandfather, a timber merchant in Cowley Road.

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Entrants aged under 12 can pick up a free treasure map from Blackwell's with the best city centre places for children.

A panel of local experts will cast their eye over the maps and judge designs on originality, attractiveness and how evocative they are.

The winner receives a £100 gift voucher to spend in the Covered Market and gets their creation professionally framed by Covered Arts to hang on their wall at home, while second and third place will be mounted onto cardboard ready for framing.

The business works closely with Oxford University and deals with historic maps from private collections, including from the Bodleian Library and Ashmolean Museum.

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Managing director Paul Lee said: "It's a lovely idea and it will be a privilege to work on.

"We've been lucky enough to work with maps that date back centuries."

The city council also plans to hold an exhibition featuring the best maps in the city centre later this year.

Meanwhile, The Cake Shop in the Covered Market, which is putting together its own delicious design, will recreate the winning under 12 entry as a cake.

Manager David Bunting said: "All of our staff have their own places in Oxford that mean so much to them.

"We'll all be identifying certain landmarks or key places we want to remember."

The winners will be announced a week after the competition's closing date.

Visit rediscoveroxford.co.uk/competition