It comes as the US and Iran sign a deal to end the war and lay the foundations for the crucial Strait of Hormuz crude oil shipping lane to be reopened after months of blockages.

According to analysis by the RAC, the average price of petrol has fallen by nearly 5p since its conflict high of 159.53p on May 28, to 154.72p on Thursday.

Tesco in Cowley remains the lowest price for petrol in the city at 151.9p, according to the online tracker Petrol Prices, with the BP garage in Marston at 155.9p.

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Head of policy Simon Williams said: “The diesel drop has been even more dramatic having come down by 17p a litre from 191.54p on 15 April to 174.3p which means drivers are saving £9.50 every time they fill up. The last time the UK average price of diesel was under 175p was on 24 March.

“Even more positively, the rate of reduction ought to accelerate as the price of a barrel of oil has been under $80 for the last two days – something we haven’t seen since the start of March. Drivers can now expect to see the average pump price of petrol drop below 150p in the next week or so, while diesel should drop back under 170p.”

Whately played Robbie Lewis in the Oxford-based crime drama Inspector Morse, alongside John Thaw, between 1987 and 2000.

He reprised the role of Robbie Lewis in the ITV drama Lewis, alongside Laurence Fox, and the series ran from 2006 to 2015.

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John Thaw, who will forever be remembered for his portrayal of Colin Dexter’s creation Endeavour Morse, died from throat cancer in 2002, and Whately, who was awarded the OBE last year, said he still missed him “terribly”.

“He was like a brother to me,” he added.

Whately, who lives in Buckinghamshire, is appearing in The Importance of Being Earnest at Garsington Opera from July 10. He said he had realised something was wrong in the run-up to John Thaw’s death.

He told the Telegraph: “While we were shooting the last film (a special, broadcast in 2000) he kept saying, ‘I don’t feel good, I don’t feel right.’

“And then we both did a charity event on the South Bank, in which he had to sing, and he was struggling with his voice. That was the beginning of it.

“He was diagnosed right after that. He went sort of underground a bit to lick his wounds, and didn’t come out much, but I saw him a couple of times before he died.”

John Thaw in Inspector Morse (Image: ITV)

Over the years, Whately shared a trailer with Thaw, and spent many hours with him on set.

He recalled: “Those glowering eyebrows could be very intimidating.

“But once you got to know him, which could take a couple of years, you realised what a wonderful raconteur he could be.”

The cast of Lewis (Image: ITV)

From 2006 to 2015, Whately starred in the Inspector Morse sequel, Lewis, alongside Laurence Fox, and they were in touch recently.

“I spoke to him on the phone last year when he was getting married. I haven’t seen him for a couple of years though. I’m not a fan of his politics.”

The actors discussed politics from time to time.

Laurence Fox with Kevin Whately (Image: ITV)

Whately added: “We did, and because he knew that I was a bit of a Lefty I thought he just said things to wind me up. I loved Laurence.

“He was good fun to work with and he was a very, very good actor. But his life took over. It’s a great shame for the acting industry.”

For many years, Kevin Whately was a familiar face during filming on Oxford streets and would stop and chat to fans and passers-by.

The actor first made his name playing Neville in the 1980s comedy Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.

When he was awarded the OBE in January last year, Christopher Sullivan, who runs a website dedicated to the Morse, Lewis and Endeavour TV series, said: “It’s wonderful to know that Kevin is not just being recognised for his charity work with organisations such as Action for Children and The Alzheimers Society, but also for the joy he has brought to many people through his varied acting roles.

“In particular, his role as Robbie Lewis in the Morse and Lewis series. Those series were watched by millions and Kevin, and his portrayal of Lewis, is loved by millions. This is a well-deserved honour.”

Oxford University colleges Exeter and Hertford submitted plans to improve their shared sports grounds in Edgeway Road, Marston, but the application was turned down by Oxford City Council planning committee on November 18, 2025.

The plan includes facilities such as indoor and outdoor padel courts, cricket nets, basketball, netball, and five-a-side courts, and a golf simulator.

The old squash court was set to house a golf simulator, and the proposal included a friendly café, better disabled access and more green space with trees and wildflowers.

The grass pitches were to be open for hire, but schools and charities were offered free hours.

Exeter College cricket pavilion at Marston (Image: Image: Exeter College/Hertford College)

Residents and clubs could have used the grounds all year, with affordable pricing for all.

The plan also aimed to encourage people to walk, cycle, or scoot to the site on new footpaths, with proper cycle and scooter parking.

The petition argues that Oxford has limited affordable places to play, and this site, already hosting sports, could have been a shared space for everyone.

The petition, launched on Change.org, states: “A project with this much to offer local health, wellbeing and community life deserves to go ahead.

“This petition shows how many local people would welcome and use a community sports hub in Marston, and asks for the proposal to be supported.”

Petition launched for Oxford University colleges plan to revamp sports field (Image: Image: Exeter College/Hertford College)

There were a number of objections to the plans from residents.

The college at the time said the project will breathe new life into an underused site that has suffered from vandalism and anti-social behaviour in recent years, transforming it into a year-round destination.

Oxford City Council’s planning committee refused the application in November.

Planning officers recommended that the plans should be refused for several reasons.

Petition launched for Oxford University colleges plan to revamp sports field (Image: Image: Exeter College/Hertford College)

In their report, they stated the padel enclosure would “fail to preserve the openness of the Green Belt”, that the plans do not address potential noise and disturbance from the air source heat pumps, and that there is not enough information about how these facilities would cope with flooding.

The Environment Agency and the lead local flood authority objected over the lack of detail on how the development would deal with flooding.

Roughly 30 objections were lodged against the scheme, while others supported it.

Laura Warden, senior planning officer for Oxford Preservation Trust, said: “More sensitive consideration needs to be given to the site’s setting next to the floodplain meadows and the heritage significance of this ‘green finger’ which runs from Marston down towards the city.

“Although we support the re-use and retention of the existing buildings we find the level of additional development, especially the padel tennis canopy and additional lighting across the site, to be excessive.”