WHEN the Insider heard that a band of intrepid French tourists were treated to a trip around Cassington’s anaerobic digester he gently mocked the idea in this very column.

But it seems methane-induced fun is gaining in popularity.

Oxfordshire Waste Partnership, comprising all our local councils, are planning more tours of its rubbish facilities in June.

So you can take the family to Dix Pit landfill site, and, of course, Agrivert’s Cassington anaerobic digester, or if you pack a picnic and make a day of it, head to Milton Keynes Recycling Facility.

With “trash tourism” on the rise, perhaps the Insider needs to digest some humble pie.

As OWP’s Paul Mocroft says “we seem to have a fascination with waste. I can’t explain it”.

To book, visit oxfordshirewaste.gov.uk

CULTURE Minister and Wantage MP Ed Vaizey was in his element at the premiere of Tortoise in Love last week.

And why not? Leicester Square was playing host to a film written, directed and shot in Kingston Bagpuize – a village in the heart of his constituency.

Giving a speech to the assembled media and 700 villagers, he issued the one-liner: “I’m a politician, so the chance to bask in other people’s work is in my DNA.”

But the Insider hears that he wasn’t as quick delivering his one line during a cameo in the film.

Apparently, he took several takes to get it right. Doesn’t sound like Hollywood will be calling just yet.

The Insider hopes those organising the Olympic Torch relay have a better handle on geography than some of the public relations companies involved.

We were called by Edelman PR agency on behalf of the Games to highlight events in the East of England.

We explained in detail that Oxford was not, in fact, in the East of England.

With that salient information on board, the caller promised to send details of relevant Olympic-related celebrations. An e-mail arrived detailing shindigs in Ipswich, Norwich and Peterborough.

The Olympic Torch is due in Oxford on July 9... we’ll be waiting with fingers crossed.

Oxfordshire County Council’s new leader Ian Hudspeth has vowed to take over from where his predecessor left off when it comes to blogging.

But is he setting his sights too high... or just too far apart?

Under the title “an eye on economic developments” he waxed lyrical on the financial crises affecting the Eurozone.

Twenty-four hours later the other eye was staring wistfully at Wembley.

Entitled “A rueful eye on Wembley this Sunday” he talked of the League Two football play-off final and what might have been for Oxford United, who narrowly missed out.

There’s always next season...for the U’s, that is.

For Greece the answer isn’t that simple.