Here we look back at archive photos in the Oxford Mail from 2003 - two decades ago.

That was the year when protesters gathered to demonstrate against the war in Iraq, and serious flooding closed the Abingdon Road to traffic.

Schoolchildren going on strike might feel like a relatively new phenomenon, but it's not.

READ MORE: Short notice for Botley interchange work

That was the scene at Carfax in the centre of Oxford on Thursday, March 13, 2003.

Hundreds of youngsters joined hundreds more adults that day in a massive protest against the UK Government's plans to invade Iraq.

Our photographer George Reszeter followed the crowd as it congregated at the crossroads then slowly wove its way down Cornmarket Street, chanting as it went.

Despite national outrage about the proposed military action, the first phase of the invasion started six days later.

Seen as art of a 'war on terror' launched after the 9/11 attacks in New York, the Iraq war eventually led to the toppling of President Saddam Hussein, who was executed on December 30, 2006.

In November of 2003, there was a new campaign to clean up Oxford's streets.

Oxford Mail:

Oxford City Centre Management Company chief executive Bill McCardle toured the central area of the city with Oxford City Council cleansing staff and city councillors.

Streets that were identified for extra cleaning included: High Street, Turl Street, Broad Street, George Street, New Inn Hall Street, Queen Street and Magdalen Street.

Cornmarket had already been covered as part of the previous 'Sparkling Oxford' campaign.

The idea, Mr McCardle said, was to develop a clear plan of action to clean up the area.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.