TWENTY-FIVE thousand jobs rely on Oxford’s thriving digital sector, according to a new report.

Tech Nation 2016, compiled by government-backed Tech City, names the city as one of 27 "digital clusters" around the UK.

It praises Oxford's strength in cyber security, app and software development, cloud computing and gaming.

The report, which used Office of National Statistics data and local research, also found a strong international focus, with 40 per cent of customers tending to be based outside the UK.

Tech Nation cites success stories such as Abingdon Science Park-based cyber security firm Sophos, which is valued at £700m.

SophosLabs vice president Simon Reed said: "The latest Tech Nation report confirms what many of us in the sector know - technology businesses are growing much faster than the rest of the economy."

The report found the number of digital-related jobs in Oxford rose by a third between 20111 and 2014, while turnover of digital firms jumped by 42 per cent during the same period.

Charley Darbishire, founder and managing director of East Oxford-based tech firm Educake which designs apps to help school children do homework on the move, said: "I am really pleased that the report highlights Oxford as a digital cluster.

"Education publishing has always been massively important in Oxford with companies like Pearson, Oxford University Press and Taylor Francis and with newcomers like us, there is a huge edtech focus."