In the early days of the Oxfordshire Constabulary, police walked or went by horse and cart.

The first official bicycle was bought in 1894, at a cost of £15.

The benefits of the bike were soon obvious, and from 1896, all ranks who used their own cycles on urgent duties were able to claim two pence a mile.

From 1917 to 1940, constables were banned from riding bikes at night, although many ignored the rule.

There were many stories of them having to walk long distances the next day to recover their bikes, which they had abandoned in hedges the previous night as a superintendent app- roached.

The first police car appeared on Oxfordshire roads in 1914, a gift from Mr H Favarger, from the Baldons.

Motorcycles and sidecars replaced horses and carts in 1917.

A Trojan car was bought in 1924, and superintendents who used their own cars on police business, were paid an allowance of £80 a year.

In 1930, four BSA Tricars, costing £106 5s each, with fire extinguishers and first-aid kits, were bought, to catch traffic offenders. By 1941, the force had a total of 12 cars and motorcycles.

Although police stations were equipped with telephones from 1894, communication by wireless, linking them with patrol cars, did not start until 1950.

Stories about the Oxfordshire Constabulary published in recent months were taken from a booklet published to mark the centenary of the force in 1957.

It was kindly supplied by Olwen Hodgkins, of Cromwell Way, Kidlington, whose husband Harry worked at the constabulary headquarters, in New Road, Oxford, as the stores sergeant.

The Oxfordshire Constabulary was absorbed into the Thames Valley Police force in 1968.

Any more memories of the Oxfordshire Constabulary? Write to me about them.