IT IS business as usual in Chipping Norton, despite the growing furore over the News of the World phone hacking scandal which continues to gather pace daily.

Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, who was arrested by police this week, lives just outside the market town which has been firmly put on the political map since the scandal broke.

National papers have given large amounts of coverage to the so-called ‘Chipping Norton set’ said to include Prime Minister David Cameron, whose constituency home is just four miles from the home of the ex-editor at the heart of the scandal, daughter of Rupert Murdoch, Elisabeth, her husband Matthew Freud, as well as the likes of Jeremy Clarkson.

The turbulent developments in the last couple of weeks may have shaken the country but the town’s Mayor Chris Butterworth does not think it has left much of a mark on the market town. He said it hadn’t affected residents who were going about their business as normal.

He said: “The so-called Chipping Norton set isn’t sinister in any way. They’re just like-minded people who meet up for dinner.

I don’t think it will affect the town. I’m very surprised by all the fuss. People are just going about their business like always.”

Meanwhile, as Rupert and James Murdoch, as well as Ms Brooks were hauled before a House of Commons Media Select Committee to answer questions from MPs about what they knew about phone hacking at the now-defunct News of the World, Ms Brooks was offered a new job closer to home.

Keith Ruddle, an editorial team member on the volunteerrun Chipping Norton News community newspaper, wrote to The Guardian offering her a position.