The invasive plant, which poses risks to property and infrastructure, has been recorded in 329 verified sightings across the county, according to Environet, which uses a live online tracker to monitor problem areas.

That equates to approximately 0.33 incidents per square mile.

The hotspots identified are Oxford, Banbury, Henley, Bicester and Chipping Norton.

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Emily Grant, director at Environet, said: “Japanese knotweed is now firmly established right across the country, which means homeowners everywhere should know what to look for.

“My advice to anyone living or buying a home in a Japanese knotweed hotspot is to check your garden regularly during the growing season.

“At this time of year, an established knotweed plant can be identified quite easily by its hard bamboo-like canes and distinctive bright green shield-shaped leaves which grow in a zig-zag pattern along the stem.

“The earlier it’s spotted, the easier and cheaper it is to deal with.

“Acting quickly with professional advice will prevent it spreading further and help protect both your property and its value.”

The warning follows new research carried out by Environet in partnership with Censuswide, which found that seven per cent of UK homes are already affected by the plant—amounting to more than 1.58 million properties.

The presence of Japanese knotweed typically reduces property values by around five per cent, or roughly £13,500 per home.

Environet’s Exposed: The Japanese Knotweed Heatmap is built from its own enquiries, public sources and verified sightings submitted by members of the public using the map’s ‘Add Sighting’ feature.

Homeowners and buyers can enter their postcode to see how many sightings have been reported within a five-mile radius.

The top five areas affected in Oxfordshire are Oxford (65 sightings), Banbury (17), Henley-on-Thames (13), Bicester (12), and Chipping Norton (eight).

Japanese knotweed was first introduced to the UK in the Victorian era as an ornamental garden plant and has since spread widely through contaminated soil, waterways, and more than 150 years of industrial activity, construction and infrastructure works.

While the plant cannot reproduce by seed in the UK, its rhizome system can stretch up to seven metres laterally underground, and even tiny fragments can regenerate into new plants.

After ash dieback disease, Japanese knotweed is considered the UK’s second most costly invasive non-native species.

Economic costs are estimated at £246.5 million annually, according to the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI).

Those who suspect knotweed on or near their property can send a photo to expert@environetuk.com for free identification.

If confirmed, a survey will be needed to assess the extent of the infestation, potential risks, and suitable treatment options.

During summer, Japanese knotweed can be identified by tall, upright canes which can reach two to three metres high, dense clusters of stems emerging from a central crown, large green shield-shaped leaves with a pointed tip that grow alternately up the stem, and by late summer, cone-shaped tassels of small creamy-white flowers.

Early identification and action are key to preventing spread, reducing remediation costs, and avoiding potential damage to property and legal disputes between neighbours.

Northamptonshire Police has released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with an incident outraging public decency on a bus travelling through the Brackley area.

Brackley lies on the borders with Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, about nine miles east-south-east of Banbury, and 19 miles north-north-east of Oxford.

The incident occurred on the 500 bus service operating between Banbury and Bicester between 1pm and 1.40pm on Friday, June 19.

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A man was reportedly ‘committing an indecent act’ on the bus, according to the force.

A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police said: “Officers believe the man in the CCTV image may have information that could assist with their enquiries and are urging him, or anyone who recognises him, to get in touch.”

Anyone who recognises the man or has information about the incident is asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101, or make an report on the police’s website, quoting incident number 26000369521 .

Alternatively, make an anonymous report to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.

The changes, which came into force on 15 July, mean lenders must carry out affordability checks before offering buy now pay later (BNPL) products, provide clearer information about repayments and give customers more support if they get into financial difficulty.

Customers will also be able to take complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service if they are unhappy with how a regulated provider has handled their agreement.

The FCA said the changes are designed to give consumers greater protection while allowing people to continue using short-term, interest-free credit responsibly.

A spokesperson for the FCA said: “Buy now pay later can be a form of credit, but people deserve to be protected when using it.

“Lenders should check their customers can afford to pay it back.”

The spokesperson said millions of customers will receive clearer information before signing up “and better support if something goes wrong”.

What has changed?

Under the new rules, buy now pay later providers must:

• carry out proportionate affordability checks
• provide clear information about repayments before customers sign up
• explain what happens if payments are missed
• offer support to customers experiencing financial difficulties
• direct people to free debt advice where appropriate
• allow eligible complaints to be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service

Warning. Overdrafts are the worst form of mainstream debt. The interest rate will shock you…

A snip from the new ‘Debt cost cutting Masterclass: Cards, Loans, Overdrafts, BNPL’ episode of the Martin Lewis Podcast. Listen to it on https://t.co/P4U5KDLzT0, Apple, Spotify & all… pic.twitter.com/4Tkkm0Ssd9

— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) January 9, 2026

The new rules also mean some buy now pay later borrowing may appear on credit reports and could be considered by lenders when people apply for other forms of borrowing.

Could it affect your credit score?

BNPL agreements may now be reported to credit reference agencies.

That means lenders could take them into account when considering applications for loans, credit cards or mortgages.

Dimitar Lazarov, head of Credit Karma UK, said people who repay on time could benefit, but warned those who miss payments should be aware that “it could have an impact on their ability to apply for other products”.

John Webb, head of consumer affairs at Experian UK and Ireland, said consumers should remember that opening a new BNPL account “may be taken into account on credit reports by lenders when they are considering new borrowing applications such as a loan, credit card or mortgage”.

Why were the rules introduced?

Buy now pay later has become increasingly popular because it allows shoppers to spread payments without paying interest.

However, consumer groups have raised concerns that some people have accumulated several BNPL agreements without fully considering whether they could afford the repayments.

According to the FCA, the market was worth more than £13 billion in 2024.

Its Financial Lives Survey found around 10.9 million UK adults used buy now pay later during the year to May 2024.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at AJ Bell, said: “Most payments using BNPL are relatively small.

“The Woolard Review, done by the FCA in 2021, showed that people often didn’t think of it as borrowing either.

“A combination of both things means borrowers don’t consider affordability as carefully as they would for other kinds of debt.

“It means a real risk of stacking these debts until they’re unwieldy. The rules requiring stricter affordability checks are highly sensible.”

She added the extra checks “should help people stop and think about whether they really need the item they’re buying”.

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Where can you get help?

If you’re struggling with buy now pay later repayments, experts recommend contacting your provider as soon as possible rather than taking on more borrowing.

Free debt advice is available from organisations including:

• StepChange Debt Charity
• Citizens Advice
• National Debtline
• Christians Against Poverty

Vikki Brownridge, chief executive at StepChange Debt Charity, said: “There’s no doubt that BNPL can be a useful form of credit – especially as it’s usually short-term and interest-free – to spread the cost of a bulky expense.

“However, as with any form of credit, regulation is vital to protect customers if something goes wrong, and ensure people aren’t being offered credit where it’s not affordable – something which will trigger debt problems, as we see all too often.

“Consumers can go on using BNPL in the same way as before, but it’s important to be aware of the new protections.

“If you are finding yourself struggling to keep up with payments, rather than taking on more credit or BNPL agreements, we would always advise seeking free and impartial debt advice to help get back on track.”