Oxford Street and other areas of Central London such as Bond Street and Piccadilly due to "pickpocketing, fraud and theft". The advent of closed-circuit television has reduced the area's attraction to scam artists and illegal street traders. Every Christmas, Oxford Street is decorated with festive lights. The tradition of Christmas lights began in 1959, five years after neighbouring Regent Street. There were no light displays in 1976 or 1977 because of economic recession, but the lights returned in 1978 when Oxford Street organised a laser display, and have continued every year since. Current practice involves a celebrity turning the lights on in
Canal Street, Oxford in Canal Street. Canal boats can be rented on the canal at Canal Street. A boatyard is also located on the canal here. To the south are the grounds of Worcester College. Previously the Jericho area was part of the Walton Manor farm owned by St John's College, Oxford. The Oxford Canal was opened in 1790 and the street was named Canal Street around 1870. St Barnabas Church was consecrated in 1869. There used to be a ferry (with ferry house) and coal wharfs close to the north end of Canal Street. Flooding has always been an issue due to