SHABINA Akhtar, Radio Oxford's breakfast presenter, is expected back at work in the "near future".

Ms Akhtar, who took over the breakfast slot on the BBC station in March last year, has been on sick leave for about three weeks due to illness with Dominic Cotter filling in for her.

But station manager Steve Taschini reassured listeners yesterday that she would be back at work soon.

He confirmed that mother-of-one Ms Akhtar was "signed off" ill and was expected back to work on the breakfast programme "in the very near future".

He added: "We remain focused on providing a clear, distinctive radio service for Oxfordshire as part of a tri-media offer, together with content online and on BBC1."