THREE men have been charged with a series of thefts from cars in the Chipping Norton area last month.

The thefts occurred overnight on February 5 and at: Hill Rise, Great Rollright when a handbag containing a chequebook and credit cards was stolen from a silver Citroen Picasso; Main Street, Over Norton; when chefs' knives and cooking equipment were stolen from a green Volvo V70; Quarhill Close, Over Norton when a handbag, a briefcase and number of bibles were stolen from a black Citroen Picasso and a bag was stolen from a red Renault Espace; and High Street, Great Rollright when shotgun cartridges were stolen from a green Mitsubishi Shogun The men were arrested last Thursday, charged the following day and appeared at Didcot Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

They are: Lee Nicholson, 36, of Valley Drive, Leicester, who was remanded in custody; John Powell, 24, of Carnbroe Avenue, Coventry, who was released on bail; and Marc Dobson, 20, of Windermere Avenue, Coventry, who was also bailed.

The arrests took place at the men's homes as part of a joint operation by West Midlands, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Thames Valley police forces.