THE HEAD of the BBC has promised that Oxford’s “valuable” television news service will not be axed.

Director general Mark Thompson – who lives in Oxford – told Prime Minister David Cameron a plan cutting production in the city would be “a retrograde step”.

Mr Cameron wrote to Mr Thompson about a plan to shut the TV studio at Banbury Road and replace the BBC Oxford news programmes with the Southampton-based BBC South Today show.

The cost-cutting plan, unveiled to staff by BBC management last month, would have seen the county lose its dedicated news bulletins and threatened almost 20 jobs.

Mr Thompson said in his letter to the Mr Cameron: “I believe that these services are very valuable, particularly in the light of ITV’s retreat from regional broadcasting, and that to withdraw them would be a retrograde step.

“I do not intend to include this idea in the final package of proposals that I submit to the BBC Trust.”

Yesterday a BBC source said: “The Director General was happy to reassure those concerned, and confirmed that these local services will not be axed.”

However, campaigners warned the service would not be safe until final cuts by the corporation were agreed later this year.

Kate Griffin, chairman of the Oxford and District branch of the National Union of Journalists, said: “If it is true, it will be the result of a campaign by the BBC Oxford chapel and supported by Oxfordshire and district NUJ.

“We have worked very hard together because the principle of independent local news is very important.

“We are thrilled the BBC seems to have seen sense and is not going ahead with this damaging proposal.”

A BBC Oxford source, who asked not to be named, said: “Staff will certainly feel reassured by this development.

“But until we see the proposals are fully off the table the campaign to save it will continue.”

BBC spokesman Simon Hailes called the announcement “reassurance from the highest level”.

Oxford’s deputy mayor Alan Armitage said: “The BBC people in Oxford have been doing an excellent job and it is amazing they even considered closing it.

“It is great news they are reversing the decision.”

BBC Oxford’s radio service remains under threat, however, as the corporation is considering replacing a proportion of local radio programmes with content from BBC Radio 5 Live.

ITV shut Abingdon-based Thames Valley Tonight two years ago and replaced it with Southampton-based Meridian Tonight.