JOURNALISTS picketed BBC Oxford yesterday, above, during a 24-hour strike over compulsory redundancies.

About 20 staff refused to work at the corporation’s Banbury Road office, causing disruptions to radio and TV programmes throughout the day.

The walk-out came as members of the National Union of Journalists voted in favour of industrial action after a number of World Service journalists faced redundancy.

NUJ shop steward Paul Jenner said: “We’ve had a lot of public support, especially in light of the recent campaign around the future of the BBC in Oxford.”

A number of shows were disrupted on Radio Oxford yesterday, including Phil Gayle’s breakfast show.

He resorted to reading the sport and travel news himself.

Mr Jenner said the strike action could have been avoided had BBC manage-ment agreed to negotiate.

He said: “It is regrettable that NUJ members had to take action because it’s a loss of service to our audience, but the NUJ has been open to negotiation throughout.”

A BBC spokesman said it was “disappointed” by the action, which ended at midnight.

Another 24-hour strike is set for Friday, July 29.