With the country still in the midst of a global pandemic, many have opted out of pulling April Fools' Day pranks this year.

Thames Valley Police, who have pulled some corkers in the past, have remained fake news free on their social media feeds today, and at the Oxford Mail, we're planning our greatest April Fool of all time for 2022.

Despite the lack of new pranks, puns and general frivolity going on, we've looked through the archives and found some contenders for Oxfordshire's worst-ever April Fools' Day joke.

Thame tap water

Oxford Mail: The joke was not well-receivedThe joke was not well-received

Topping the charts is the Thame resident who decided to make a Covid-themed joke just one month after the first national lockdown came into force.

An image circulated on the Facebook group Spotted:Thame which was photoshopped to look like a breaking news bulletin that read: 'Coronavirus in Thame tap water - all Thame residents urged to isolate'.

While for some members of the online group it was obvious the picture was an April Fools' Day prank, many slammed it as 'pathetic' and 'sick'.

Erotica festival

Oxford Mail: Chipping Norton's erotica festival promoChipping Norton's erotica festival promo

In 2017, Chipping Norton was bracing itself for the town's first-ever Festival of Erotica.

It was, of course, a joke.

The festival was set for 2018, with events including erotic readings, racy theatrical performances and Brazilian waxes. Sound appealing?

Have you seen any April Fools' Day pranks that made you cringe? Share them with us in the comments.

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