We all know that Blackbird Leys in Oxford has its problems.

But the scurrilous piece which appeared in the Daily Mail, accusing the estate of being a den of drug dealers and criminals, was totally unjustified.

It is no wonder that Oxford East MP Andrew Smith and his neighbours are jumping to its defence.

We wouldn't for a moment suggest that Blackbird Leys is a paradise where no criminal or antisocial activity takes place.

But life has to be put in perspective - and we hope we have done so today by highlighting many of the good things that happen there.

The Daily Mail article should be dismissed out of hand for what it is - utter garbage.

Clearly the writer had done no proper research - if he had done so, he would not have written such bilge.

Of course, a report featuring the good points of Blackbird Leys would never have seen the light of day in a paper like the Daily Mail because it is interested only in sensationalism.

You have to rely on newspapers like the Oxford Mail, which have the interests of the community at heart, to see the balanced picture.

We will not flinch from reporting the bad things that happen at Blackbird Leys, and will not hesitate to criticise where we think it appropriate.

But that coverage will continue to be tempered with regular reports and pictures of the many positive events that happen there.