OXFORD City Council leader Bob Price was praised for being a good sport when he was presented with a giant ironic Christmas card from Friends of the Earth.

The Oxford branch delivered their festive greeting to Mr Price at Oxford Town Hall yesterday morning.

In it, members had written their version of The 12 Days of Christmas, replacing Lords-a-Leaping and Maid-a-Milking with a dozen transport improvements for the city, including 12 safe bike tracks, 11 clean air streets and 10 electric waste trucks.

Group member Chris Church praised Mr Price, whose council earlier this year unveiled plans for creating a Zero Emissions Zone in the city centre.

Mr Church said: "Bob said he really liked the Christmas card and he insisted that staff at reception prop it up by the stairs."

He went on: "In the next year, Oxfordshire councils and national government are going to making decisions about transport that will affect Oxfordshire for the next 25 years and it's essential that they take the opportunity to do the right thing and give us the transport services we need while tackling air pollution.

"We hope Bob Price will listen to these messages, take them to heart, and work with government to give us all the Christmas present we'd like."