A TOWPATH in the centre of Oxford has flooded several hours after an alert was raised that river levels are rising.

The warning has been issued by the Environment Agency and is in place for Thursday (March 28) with flooding expected. 

Oxford City Council has now warned residents that the towpath at Fiddlers Island towards Botley Road is in the process of being closed due to flooding.

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The authority has urged people to avoid entering floods and standing water and to instead find a different route.

The flood alert concerns the River Thames and its tributaries in the Oxford area where flooding is possible for the areas between Wolvercote down to and including Radley and Jericho.