COMMUTERS are reminded that Oxford’s High Street and Magdalen Bridge will be closed during rush hour tomorrow.

Oxfordshire County Council will be closing the roads from 3am to allow the city’s annual May Morning celebrations to take place.

They are closed to allow revellers to gather at the foot of Magdalen College’s Great Tower to hear choristers welcome in the day by singing the traditional Hymnus Eucharisticus.

Both High Street and Magdalen Bridge are scheduled to be reopened at 9am but in previous years the county council has been able to open them earlier if crowds disperse quickly.

The roads will remain open to pedestrians – with Magdalen Bridge open to pedestrians for the fourth year running.

Last year’s system will be repeated, with two sets of barriers blocking the bridge’s potential jumping points and security staff patrolling the area.

In 2005, about 40 people were injured after leaping off the bridge, which was then closed to the public on May Mornings until 2011.

Celebrations at the bridge will start at 6am and there will also be special events and activities across the city, including Morris Men dancing in Radcliffe Square, Catte Street and Broad Street and bars and restaurants opening for breakfast.