For many years, my husband and I lived in Oxford and have always been very proud of our city.

We now live outside Oxford but go there once a week. Last week, our journey was thoroughly spoiled.

I know that it was refuse collection day, but everything looked so unkempt and dirty.

Visitors to England usually start their journey at Heathrow or London, the buses and cars from which take the route into Oxford that we now take.

There has been a bicycle chained to a post in the middle of Carfax, a real tourist gathering point, for several weeks, and it has gradually slipped down the post and now lies covered in pigeon droppings.

Surely someone could have moved it by now? It makes it look as though no-one really cares about the place. It must give a dreadful impression.

We are very sad to see standards falling in Oxford, making it a less appealing city. I felt we should write and express our view.

Very often it is not the big things that make a difference, it is the small things, and they don't cost much, except thought. CHRISTINA TOWNLEY, Clifden Road, Worminghall