The supermarket has released a statement admitting that the pole sign at its petrol station at Oxford Road, Banbury, was advertising prices that are too low.

On Tuesday, July 14, an anonymous person discovered that the price on the board was 159.90p per litre for diesel when it was in fact 162.90p per litre.

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On social media, they said: “Be careful guys. Just been to the Esso on Oxford Road.

“The price on the board says 159.9 for diesel but when you pick the pump up it says 162.9. I know it’s only 3p but it’s deceiving and not right.”

The Esso petrol station run by Asda near Banbury (Image: Google Maps)

Although the petrol station is advertised with Esso, it is operated by Asda Express which has a connected site.

As such, it was a spokesperson for the supermarket that clarified it was due to an “exceptional circumstance”.

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They said: “Yes, we did have an issue with the pole-sign at the Asda Express in Banbury; the pole-sign did not automatically update when the pump prices changed.

“When a price change is completed the pumps and pole-sign automatically update, but in this exceptional circumstance there was an issue. 

“As soon as the colleagues on site became aware of the discrepancy, the pole-sign was manually updated to ensure that the prices matched.”

Dr Lennard Lee, an honorary consultant medical oncologist at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) and associate professor at the University of Oxford, received national recognition as one of the top three investigator-led research projects in the country at the Royal College of Physicians’ Excellence in Patient Care Awards 2026.

The award celebrates his leadership of the UK Cancer Vaccine Advance programme, a national collaboration involving the NHS, academia, government, and industry to accelerate personalised cancer vaccine development.

Dr Lee said: “We are now seeing leading scientists from across the UK bringing their expertise together to accelerate cancer vaccine research.

“That has become one of the country’s great scientific success stories.”

The programme aims to enrol more than 10,000 cancer patients in clinical trials, using AI, UK supercomputing, and laboratory automation to speed up the discovery and production of new treatments.

Dr Lee said: “It has been an enormous privilege to lead this work while continuing to care for patients as a consultant medical oncologist at OUH.

“Keeping patients at the centre of everything we do has enabled us to build a truly national programme that is accelerating clinical trials, bringing together AI, supercomputing and medicine, and creating the opportunity to deliver new cancer vaccines for the NHS.”

Professor Andrew Brent, chief medical officer at OUH, praised Dr Lee’s ‘well-deserved national recognition’.

He said: “His work demonstrates the extraordinary impact that can be achieved when clinical expertise, scientific innovation and cutting-edge technology come together with a clear focus on improving patient care.”

The business stopped trading earlier this year in January after more than 30 years in business.

Holidays were cancelled when the business folded.

And then the directors of Gold Crest Holidays put the bust company into voluntary liquidation.

Statement of affairs submitted to Companies House reveal debts of £927k, including £102k to ABTA and £63k to American Express.

READ MORE: Haulage firm collapses in liquidation after 35 years with £1.1m debts

The company specialised in coach packages to Disneyland Paris, European city breaks and major sporting events, as well as UK short breaks and themed holidays.

Its advertised itineraries included countryside and heritage tours with excursions to areas such as the Cotswolds, alongside seaside breaks and city stays.

A notice to customers says all future departures have been cancelled and the business has stopped trading with immediate effect.

Travel industry body ABTA is treating Gold Crest as a financial failure and has confirmed that customers with package bookings protected by its scheme can claim refunds for holidays that will not go ahead.

Reports say the collapse affects coach holidays booked through both travel agents and direct with the company, covering trips in the UK and overseas throughout 2026.

Gold Crest’s liquidation comes amid a series of failures involving UK travel businesses, with Oxfordshire Travel Limited also in liquidation.

Industry commentators have pointed to rising operating costs, pressure on household budgets and tighter margins in the coach and package holiday sector as factors behind the recent wave of insolvencies.

For Gold Crest customers who had booked Cotswolds or countryside itineraries as part of a coach package, the liquidation means holidays will not take place, and passengers will need to seek refunds or rebook with alternative operators.