WHEN some of the UK's elite cyclists raced through Oxfordshire on the Tour of Britain, local bike buffs had a rare opportunity to catch the action in extreme close-up: every pedal stroke, tyre screech and drop of water.

Even so, this might be a bit too close-up.

Oxford Mail Camera Club member Derek Hall captured this priceless moment when he went out to shoot the cycling contest on Saturday afternoon.

Thousands of villagers went out in the rain to watch riders on the seventh stage of the cycle, from Hemel Hempstead to Cheltenham, pass through Hoton-cum-Studley, Islip, Wootton, Charlbury and the Wychwoods.

Mr Hall took this photo about a quarter of a mile outside of Charlbury.

Most of those who gathered to watch the show, armed with raincoats and brollies, managed to stay dry.

Safe to say this family did not expect it to start raining sideways as they watched the action.

This autumnal scene almost fits in with our camera club theme this week – Harvest – but we decided to give it its own little space.

See Friday's Oxford Mail for our rich harvest of this week's ripest and juiciest Camera Club pics.