Archive

  • Quins doing well

    RUSSIAN quins born prematurely at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, earlier this month are said to be doing well. The 29-year-old mother, who has not been named, asked city hospital gynaecologists for help after being advised to have selective terminations

  • Driver abducted

    A Lithuanian lorry driver was abducted after he parked in a lay-by on the A34 near Bicester to take a nap. The driver was assaulted by three men and his lorry was taken to Liverpool docks during the early hours of Thursday, where 25 pallets of power

  • Jailed boss keeps job

    Carmaker BMW's UK finance director, who was jailed for perjury and speeding, will keep a job with the German company. Thomas Moser, 48, was caught by a speed camera driving at 101mph on Oxford's Eastern Bypass in May. He was jailed at Banbury Magistrates

  • Quins doing well

    Russian quins born prematurely at the John Radcliffe Hospital earlier this month are said to be doing well. The 29-year-old mother, who has not been named, asked city hospital gynaecologists for help after being advised to have selective terminations

  • Aldi to appeal againt refusal

    Supermarket giant Aldi has said it will appeal against a decision to turn down its plan to build a new store off Botley Road, Oxford. The German chain wanted to open on land close to the Toys 'R Us store. But Oxford City Council's central, south and

  • Weymouth game moved

    Oxford United's Blue Square Premier fixture at home to Weymouth has been re-arranged for Tuesday, January 8 (7.45). The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, December 1, but United now welcome Southend United in the second round of the FA Cup.

  • Turley backing new boss

    Oxford United goalkeeper Billy Turley believes Darren Patterson's positive attitude will rub off on all the players. Although the U's had a disappointing 0-0 draw against Ebbsfleet, Turley is adamant that once some injured players come back, United

  • Rapist loses sentence appeal

    AN Oxfordshire man who subjected two young girls to "insidious and repeated" sexual abuse today lost an appeal for a cut in his prison sentence. In attacks that took place some years ago, Russell Prior, 45, of Manor Farm Cottages, in Clare, near Watlington

  • Headington drugs factory uncovered

    A CANNABIS factory with tens of thousands of pounds worth of plants was uncovered by police today. Police found 284 plants - potentially worth more than £100,000 - after smashing down the front door at the house in Trafford Road, Headington, Oxford

  • Couple celebrate £105,000 Lottery win

    PAYING off the mortgage is the first priority for Bruce and Elaine Blyth, from Chinnor, who have won £105,503 on the National Lottery. "It's a real dream come true," said Mr Blyth, 49, a flight engineer. Mrs Blyth, 46, a teaching assistant at Chinnor's

  • 'I forgot income details' - trial told

    Olive McIntosh-Stedman - the county councillor on trial for benefit fraud - told a jury she "simply forgot" to give all the details of her income. McIntosh-Stedman, 65, of Williamson Way, Rose Hill, Oxford, denies two counts of dishonestly making a

  • Rapist loses sentence appeal

    An Oxfordshire man who subjected two young girls to "insidious and repeated" sexual abuse today lost an appeal for a cut in his prison sentence. In attacks that took place some years ago, Russell Prior, 45, of Manor Farm Cottages, in Clare, near Watlington

  • Couple celebrate £105,000 Lotto win

    Paying off the mortgage is the first priority for Bruce and Elaine Blyth, from Chinnor, who have won £105,503 on the National Lottery. "It's a real dream come true," said Mr Blyth, 49, a flight engineer. Mrs Blyth, 46, a teaching assistant at Chinnor's

  • Raid unearths drugs factory

    A cannabis factory with tens of thousands of pounds worth of plants was uncovered by police yesterday. Police found 284 plants - potentially worth more than £100,000 - after smashing down the front door at the house in Trafford Road, Headington, Oxford

  • BOWLS: Latest results

    EGHAM TROPHY Oxford & District 85, Banbury Cross 62 (Oxford skips first): C Earl 18, J Amos 16; H Watts 19, M Andrews 15; C Allen 33, J Tee 7; D Hall 15, M Sykes 24. MASON TROPHY Oxford & District 37, Foxhills 38 (Oxford skips first): E Wootton 21

  • GOLF: Club scores

    FRILFORD HEATH Ladies' November Stableford - Div 1: 1 J Docherty 41pts, 2 S Parker 40, 3 L McPhail 39. Div 2: 1 L Budgen 37, 2 C MacDonald 35, 3 M Bence 34 (cb). Div 3: 1 J Johnstone 33, 2 K Bartlett 30, 3 H Fooij 29. November Par Competition - Div

  • GOLF: Oxon duo get Birdie call

    Two promising juniors have been selected to train with the South East England Birdie Squad, which develops talented players. Abbi Laker, 13, from Chipping Norton and 14-year-old Studley Wood member Gemma Clements have been recognised by the English

  • GREYHOUNDS: Thursday's Oxford runners

    7.35: Sopranos Spirit 3, Missing Jewels, Killys Girl, MAJESTERIAL ONE, Clodiagh Amaze, Berts Our Boy 2. 7.50: Northerley Gail 3, Dustin Kewell, Snazzy Moon, SON OF THE CHIEF, Asgoodasitis 2, College Ruby. 8.05: Risky Annie, Forelacka Field 2, Pin Seeker

  • CRICKET: Cherwell eye Home Counties route

    New playing rules are set to be adopted by The Oxford Times Cherwell League next season to bring it in line with the Home Counties Premier League. And moves are also under way to introduce cup competitions. Under the revamped playing rules, clubs

  • 'Peers will build on its progress'

    The man chosen to lead Peers School into its final days has pledged to build on progress achieved under outgoing head Lorna Caldicott. Ed McConnell, the former head of the Marlborough School, in Woodstock, will take over from Ms Caldicott in January

  • HORSE RACING: Jack's all right for Japanese mission

    Experienced traveller Jack Sullivan has brushed off the effects of his trip from Gerard Butler's Blewbury stables, near Didcot, to Tokyo ahead of Saturday's Japan Cup Dirt. The six-year-old is a regular in Dubai where he has produced many of his best

  • 'I forgot income details' fraud trial told

    Olive McIntosh-Stedman - the county councillor on trial for benefit fraud - told a jury she "simply forgot" to give all the details of her income. McIntosh-Stedman, 65, of Williamson Way, Rose Hill, Oxford, denies two counts of dishonestly making a

  • Posters target binge drinkers

    HARD-HITTING posters displaying the dangerous effects of drinking too much alcohol will appear across Oxfordshire this week. As the countdown to the Christmas party season begins, NHS South Central, Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary are

  • Mobile phone robber jailed

    A MAN who robbed another man of a mobile phone and wallet has been jailed for a year. Oxford Crown Court heard that Michael Hirabe, 20, of no fixed address, ripped a pocket from a jacket being worn by Christopher Searle to take the items, which Mr

  • Rat problems 'growing in city'

    AN OXFORD resident used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain the latest statistics on rats - and says the figures prove the rat population is growing. Annie Skinner, who has lived in East Oxford since the 1960s, says she has been plagued by rats

  • Gem's a big stunner

    The first thing to say about the cruise ship the Norwegian Gem is that she's ENORMOUS. It's the second and third things to say, too. Even after a week's cruising, I was still stunned by the scale of her. Stand at the foot of the gangplank, at the level

  • The man who didn't write TV's Brideshead

    I have just finished reading, with great enjoyment, Valerie Grove's new biography A Voyage Round John Mortimer (Viking, £25). Though an authorised account of the writer/barrister's long and eventful life, it is far from toadying in its approach. National

  • High speed trip to Paris in impeccable style

    The omens looked good for a day of rail buffery when my train from Oxford passed Richard Trevithick at Reading and then drew up alongside Isambard Kingdom Brunel at Paddington. The first was an aging class 37 diesel engine whose name celebrates the builder

  • A40 crash victim is identified

    A 24-year-old woman who died in a car crash on the A40 near Wheatley has been identified. Victoria McBryde, 24, of Horton, Northamptonshire, died following a collision on the westbound carriageway of the A40 on Tuesday night. Police are appealing

  • Comedy and confusions

    Another week, another TV adaptation of a classic book. At least Cranford (BBC1) hasn't been adapted by Andrew Davies, so it may not over-emphasise sexual goings-on. In fact the first episode portrayed a very strait-laced society in which people are outraged

  • Man helped foil robbery

    Police are trying to find a motorist who foiled a street robbery. A man in a white Mercedes van was stopped by a red car with Polish number plates on Feilden Grove, in Headington, at about 3pm on Monday. Four men got out of the car and demanded a

  • Woman mugged getting out of car

    A mugger grabbed a woman's bag as she got out of her car. The 27-year-old woman was walking along Acacia Avenue in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, at about 5.30pm last Thursday. A man grabbed her handbag and after a struggle made off with the bag containing

  • Eight at The Thatch, run by the winners of TV's The Restaurant

    Everyone wants to know how Jane and Jeremy Hooper are shaping up in the new business they 'won' as victors in Raymond Blanc's recent BBC2 reality show The Restaurant. And they are going the best way about finding out - by reserving themselves a table

  • Fine books on food and wine from Oxford University Press

    Another Oxford link with gastronomic excellence is Oxford University Press, which has published several unrivalled publications on food and drink over the years. Perhaps the most famous, and the one which no serious foodie would be without, is The Oxford

  • RUGBY UNION: Chippy look to honour Cripps

    Chipping Norton are bidding to honour the memory of founder member Tony Cripps by starring on the field. Club stalwart Cripps, who helped get Chippy started in 1975, was killed in a freak accident this summer. The death of such a prominent figure

  • Oxford Brookes begins major project on food

    More than 150 people from the world of food and drink, and various academics, gathered at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, in London, to celebrate the launch of Oxford Gastronomica. Based at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford Gastronomica is the UK's

  • RUGBY UNION: Students are up next

    Chipping Norton have been been drawn at home to Hartpury College in round four south west of the EDF Energy Senior Vase. The clash, on December 8, will pair two of the region's in-form sides as Hartpury are top of the Gloucester Premier Division having

  • I Do, Wristcutters: A Love Story, 4:30 and Man in the Chair

    A runaway hit in its native France, Eric Lartigau's I Do is the kind of Gallic confection that Hollywood studios used to remake at the drop of a chapeau. However, the transatlantic trade has slowed of late and it's possible to watch this slick, if highly

  • RUGBY: Osborne stays positive

    Grove coach Neil Osborne is staying optimistic despite seeing his side lose three matches in a row. Their 24-19 defeat at home to Chipping Norton in the EDF Energy Senior Vase was the latest blow, but Osborne stressed the season has a long way to go

  • Jude Law and Michael Caine in Sleuth

    Released in 1972, Joseph Mankiewicz's tense and serpentine thriller Sleuth, adapted by Anthony Shaffer from his own stage play, pitted Sir Laurence Olivier against Michael Caine in a titanic battle of nerve and deception. Set largely within a claustrophobic

  • RUGBY UNION: Props star for Bicester

    Bicester's forwards starred as they defeated Witney 33-10 to make it three straight wins in the Oxfordshire Under 16 League. It was their front row that proved cruicial and scored four of their five tries. Man-of-the-match Neil Davies opened the scoring

  • Oxford Philomusica: Sheldonian Theatre

    He normally sits at the conductor's left hand, but at the latest Philomusica concert the orchestra's leader, John , sprung on to the podium and took charge. Opening with Schubert's Symphony No 8, the Unfinished, it rapidly became apparent that Georgiadis

  • Today's local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 112 BMW 2879 Electrocomponents 209 Nationwide Accident Repair 134.5 Oxford Biomedica 24.75 Oxford Catalyst 149.5 Oxford Instruments 209.5 Reed Elsevier 559 RM 193.75 RPS Group 307 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • RUGBY UNION: Tokyo tourists

    MRC Tokyo, the student team from Meiji University in Japan's capital city, will begin a UK tour in Oxford next year. They will start by watching Oxford University play the Penguins at Iffley Road on February as they did on their inaugural tour in 1987

  • The Oxford Symphony Orchestra, with Natalie Clein

    The OSO opened its new season last weekend with a stylish and buoyant recital in the glorious setting of St Aldates Church. The high spot of the evening for many was, undoubtedly, the appearance of cello star Natalie Clein, in her second visit to the

  • Oysterband, Carling Academy

    Oysterband's Meet You There is, in my humble opinion, the finest folk (or folk-rock) album of 2007, so it was fascinating to see whether they could transfer their lush harmonies and dense arrangements to the confines of the Zodiac - sorry, the Carling

  • Young singers wow Albert Hall

    Hundreds of Oxfordshire children took centre stage at the Royal Albert Hall to sing in front of a flag-waving crowd. The audience cheered loudly as more than 500 youngsters from the county performed their own version of the Last Night of the Proms.

  • RUGBY UNION: Angels on song

    Witney Angels defeated Cambridge Select Ladies 10-5 in a very wet Midlands 1 clash at Hailey Road. Angels played a disciplined game in the first half and were rewarded with a try from No 8 Teresa Godfrey. The second half brought further rain, cold

  • Romantic Comedy, Milton Keynes Theatre

    'I rarely receive guests in the buff," Jason Carmichael rather grandly informs the girl who has just scurried into his New York flat. The girl in question, Phoebe Craddock, doesn't seem to notice that she has arrived at a rather inopportune moment. Dressed

  • Circulation aid is out of this world

    Technology developed for astronauts has been brought to Oxfordshire to help people suffering from circulation problems in their legs. A new clinic in Bicester is the first place in the UK to offer the Nasa equipment, which was originally designed to

  • Mobile phone robber gets jail

    A man who robbed another man of a mobile phone and wallet has been jailed for a year. Oxford Crown Court heard that Michael Hirabe, 20, of no fixed address, ripped a pocket from a jacket being worn by Christopher Searle to take the items, which Mr Searle

  • Grocers and Innkeepers: The Fergus Madden Gallery

    A nostalgic view of the high street from the recent past may be found in an exhibition of the work of Eric Ravilious and Edward Ardizzone at The Fergus Madden Gallery in Stanford Dingley, near Reading. These original lithographs, drawn from the 1930s

  • Steven Isserlis: Jacqueline du Pre Music Building

    'This had better be good." That was my ungracious thought as I arrived on a chilly, wet afternoon for the latest Oxford Chamber Music Society concert, which was packed to capacity, in spite of the weather. No doubt the Carduccis picked their programme

  • CCTV changes upset traders

    A decision to remove six CCTV cameras in Abingdon has been condemned by traders. Councillors said the decision would not compromise safety, but businesses fear trouble will increase. The Vale of the White Horse District Council has confirmed the cameras

  • Carducci Quartet, Holywell Music Room

    'This had better be good." That was my ungracious thought as I arrived on a chilly, wet afternoon for the latest Oxford Chamber Music Society concert, which was packed to capacity, in spite of the weather. No doubt the Carduccis picked their programme

  • The Boyfriend, Oxford Playhouse

    Oxford Operatic has not staged The Boyfriend for 27 years - prompting the question: why not? The opportunity to mount such 1920s showmanship must be a director's dream, and Sandy Wilson's classic musical should be an easy hit in anyone's hands. Director

  • Beverely Knight, New Theatre

    She's diminutive, but Beverley Knight - first lady of British soul - made a huge impression at the New Theatre, Oxford, on Monday. Reminiscent of a young Tina Turner, and with a vocal range and style every bit as good, Beverley exuded raw energy as

  • The Duchess of Malfi, the Oxford Playhouse

    I do enjoy a good Jacobean tragedy, so it was a delight not only to catch a rare performance of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi at the Oxford Playhouse last week but also to discover that this student production was one of the highest order. And the

  • Music to soothe suffering

    A series of classical concerts is being held in Oxford for people suffering from dementia and their carers. Musicians from the Orchestra of St John's will perform at the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, at St Hilda's College, Cowley Place,, to an audience

  • Conference aims to tackle bullying

    More than 300 teachers and pupils are attending a conference to tackle bullying in Oxfordshire's schools and youth clubs. The "Bullying... What's New?" conference, has been organised by Oxfordshire County Council to coincide with National Anti-Bullying

  • Abram Wilson, the Carling Academy

    For his latest project, Ride! Ferris Wheel to the Modern Day Delta, trumpeter Abram Wilson has put together three bands: a New Orleans brass band, a Delta Blues trio and a jazz septet, making a highly unusual ten-piece with Wilson very much at the centre

  • Police plea after city attacks

    POLICE today appealed for information on two robberies in Oxford. In one, a 27-year-old woman got out of her car and was walking towards a house when a man grabbed her bag. They struggled and the man made off with the bag which contained cash and a

  • 'Cyclone victims need our help'

    Residents in Oxfordshire can help rebuild homes or provide new shelters for hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis, who are victims of Cyclone Sidr, say Oxfam bosses. Bangladeshi families are returning to their homes to find devastation following last

  • Similar types

    Derek Honey states that smoking is still allowed in prison and in the bars in the Houses of Parliament at Westminster (Oxford Mail, November 19). He is, of course, right. Is this a coincidence or is it because these establishments are frequented by

  • Horton review

    The Independent Reconfiguration Panel on NHS service change has been asked by the Secretary of State for Health to carry out a review into contested proposals for changes to services at the Horton Hospital at Banbury. As part of our review, we would

  • Joan Clarke

    Joan Radcliffe Clarke, the second daughter of the former Bishop of Oxford, Kenneth Kirk, has died at the age of 83. Born Joan Radcliffe Kirk on February 11, 1924, her father, Dr Kirk, was the Bishop of Oxford from 1937 to 1954. Mrs Clarke was brought

  • Great pleasure

    In reply to Chris Boswell's letter about the celebration of Elvis Presley's death, No more, please (Oxford Mail, November 17), may I say that his music provides a great deal of pleasure to many people. In these troubled times, we are constantly bombarded

  • Still weekly

    Ralph Leavis asks if the 1875 Health and Safety Act that orders that household rubbish must be collected once a week has been repealed (Oxford Mail, November 13). Mr Leavis may be surprised to learn that household rubbish is still being collected in

  • A40 crash driver named

    A 24-YEAR-OLD woman who died in a car crash on the A40 near Wheatley has been identified. Victoria McBryde, 24, of Horton, Northamptonshire, died following a collision on the westbound carriageway of the A40 last night. Police are appealing for witnesses

  • Figures tell a worrying tail

    An Oxford resident used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain the latest statistics on rats - and says the figures prove the rat population is growing. Annie Skinner, who has lived in East Oxford since the 1960s, says she has been plagued by rats

  • Council hassle over fireworks

    For the past seven years, I have organised the Abingdon firework display at Dalton Barracks (except last year when it was held at Abbey Meadows because the airfield was booked). I have never asked for help from the Vale of White Horse District Council

  • ICE HOCKEY: Francis treble seals derby joy

    DEAN Francis hammered a hat-trick as Oxford City Stars claimed local bragging rights with a thrilling 6-5 victory against Swindon Wildcats at the Link Centre in South Division A. oThey did it the hard way, going 1-0 down before battling back for the

  • Spinning a yarn

    As you reach retirement age, you may be thinking about taking up fishing, golf, or even knitting. But if Richard Hagger even considered the latter, it was only as an aside to his main interest. Richard runs the only specialist spinning company in England

  • Overdose was accidental

    The stepfather of a homeless Oxford man said his son died after "a moment of weakness". Jason James overdosed on heroin at the Westgate Shopping Centre car park on December 10 last year. Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded a verdict of

  • Record breakers in the pink

    Charity champions at Milton-based express delivery service TNT are on track to earn national recognition after smashing their own fundraising record. The company has raised more than £14,000 to fight breast cancer this year - beating the £11,000 it

  • BAR BILLIARDS: Sheard gets off to a flier

    Reigning champion Steven Sheard, of the Nelson, came through his opening match in the Oxford & District League's singles competition with a 2-0 victory against Masons' Alan Lowe. Sheard recorded breaks of 9,110 and 19,460 in his 29,010-3,030 aggregate

  • No business like show business

    Last year, the Oxford Operatic Society celebrated its 60th anniversary. But in fact its origins go back to 1907, when it started life as the City of Oxford Amateur Dramatic Club. This fledgling company appears to have operated for well over a decade

  • Burger chain is biting back

    Work to create Oxford's 'hamburger' roundabout took a £220,000 bite out of business at a nearby fast-food restataurant. Now McDonald's is fighting back after enduring months of misery, by giving the Headington branch a £200,000 facelift. Last year

  • ATHLETICS: Exley rolls back the years

    Oxford City's John Exley shone for England at the British and Irish Veterans International Cross Country Championships in the grounds of Stormont Castle in Belfast. Selected for England in the vet 60 category, Exley pulled away from the field to lead

  • AUNT SALLY: Brilliant Barrett bags a sixer

    Tony Barrett included a six in his 15 dolls - but it proved in vain as Jelly Tots went down 4-2 to Littlemore Outsiders in the George Lowe Invitation League at Cowley Conservative Club. Ray Wade led the way for Outsiders with 12 dolls. Barry Ruffels

  • Voices from history

    As the 200th anniversary year of the abolition of the US and British slave trade draws to a close, writer Helen Rappaport is still searching for a publisher for her book A Long Way From Home, the untold tales of four highly-successful black people from

  • Thieves target shoppers

    Pickpockets have been targeting shoppers, particularly elderly and vulnerable women, in Didcot town centre. In the latest spate, at least six purses were snatched in Broadway and the Orchard Centre as well as Cockroft Road, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Wilkinson

  • People to sleep out for Africa

    More than 30 people will spend a night under the stars to raise money for an African village. A sponsored sleepout will take place outside the Blackbird Leys Community Centre on Saturday, December 1, to mark World Aids Day. All money raised will go

  • Lorry driver abducted by masked men

    A Lithuanian lorry driver was abducted after he parked in a lay-by on the A34 near Bicester to take a nap. The driver was assaulted by three men and his lorry was taken to Liverpool docks during the early hours of last Thursday, where 25 pallets of

  • 'Ruthless' raiders abduct A34 driver

    A LORRY driver was abducted and had his cargo stolen from the A34 near Weston-on-the-Green. The driver, who is Lithuanian, was asleep in his Scania lorry, parked on a lay-by near Weston on the Green, on the A34 Southbound from junction 9 of M40 towards

  • Passengers steal cab

    Yobs stole a black cab after turfing the taxi driver out of the vehicle and onto the street before running over his foot. Four men pushed ahead in a taxi rank in Market Hill, Bicester, and started an argument with others in the queue at about 2.30am

  • Man-in-black assaults taxi driver

    A TAXI driver was attacked by a drunken passenger yesterday. The man got in a taxi near the King Alfred's Head pub, in Wantage, at about 5.15pm and asked to go Grove. He became aggressive at the roundabout with Mably Way, in Grove, then grabbed and

  • 'Secure your homes' warning

    Burglars stole from a home after getting in through an unlocked door. They escaped with a digital camera from Miller Road in Bretch Hill, Banbury, some time between 10pm on Friday and 7am on Saturday, police said today. Pc Mike Welsh said: "I'd like

  • Taxi driver run over

    A TAXI driver was run over after his cab was taken during a disturbance at a taxi rank in Bicester. Police said four men pushed ahead in the taxi queue at the rank in Market Square and got into a taxi; two other men took offence at this and started

  • Double shocker

    Couple of shocks in the last week. Firstly, at playgroup last Friday, talking to the other mums, it transpired they already had their babies names down for the local pre-school - 2009 enrolment! Looking across at my little one pottering around with a

  • Taxi driver assaulted

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a taxi driver was assaulted in Grove yesterday afternoon. A man got into a taxi which was parked near the King Alfred's Head pub in Wantage market place at around 5.15pm. He came from the direction of the Arbery

  • Burglars stole digital camera

    POLICE this afternoon appealed for witnesses after a house was burgled in Bretch Hill, Banbury. The raiders broke into a house in Miller Road through an insecure back door and stole a Hewlett Packard 420 digital camera between 10pm on Friday and 7am

  • Witness appeal after A40 death

    A 24-year-old woman died in a car crash on the A40 near Wheatley last night. Police are appealing for witnesses following the collision between a gold Fiat Punto and a green Peugeot 106, on the A40 westbound, close to the Oxford Services area at junction

  • Aldi launches store appeal

    SUPERMARKET firm Aldi has said it will appeal against a decision to turn down its plan to build a new store in Botley Road, Oxford. The German chain wanted to open on land close to the Toys 'R' Us store. But Oxford City Council's central, south and

  • Aldi appeals over store refusal

    Supermarket chain Aldi today said it would appeal against refusal of its plan for a new shop in Oxford. The German company wanted to build the store on a site off Botley Road. But Oxford City Council's central, south and west area committee last week

  • Update: Woman dies in A40 smash

    POLICE today appealed for witnesses after a woman was killed in a collision between two cars on the A40 near Oxford. At about 11pm last night, a gold-coloured Fiat Punto and a green Peugeot 106 collided on the A40 westbound towards Oxford after the

  • Taxi trade opened to all-comers

    TAXI drivers in Banbury could take legal action to prevent Cherwell District Council opening the cab trade to all-comers. Until now, the number of taxi licences has been strictly controlled, with just 83 hackney carriages and 240 private hire vehicles

  • Migrant workers abused, claims union

    Polish workers are enduring "Dickensian sweatshop" conditions at an Oxfordshire salad packing factory, according to the trade union Unite. Adrian Jones, of Unite, is representing two former employees of Just Prepared, at the Bicester Distribution Park

  • Switch-on launches Christmas fun

    CHRISTMAS in Banbury begins on Sunday with the town's annual Lights Switch-On Festival. The popular event will take place in the town centre and will include an afternoon of stage entertainment, funfair, stalls, street entertainers, and guest celebrity

  • Today's local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 112 BMW 2929 Electrocomponents 205.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 136.5 Oxford Biomedica 25.75 Oxford Catalyst 150.5 Oxford Instruments 209.25 REED 567.75 RM 194 RPS Group 309.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • FOOTBALL: Five-goal City up to second

    Sizzling City moved up to second place in the BGB Southern League Division 1 South & West with a 5-0 victory at Andover. Andover were the team to suffer last night, going behind to a George Redknap header. It was 2-0 on 43 minutes when Jon Gardner

  • FOOTBALL: Carbon makes a point

    This was Abingdon's ninth BGB Southern League Division 1 South & West game without defeat, but they had to come from behind to snatch a 1-1 draw against high-fliers Bridgwater. Bridgwater went ahead through Steve Orchard after 24 minutes. Town upped

  • FOOTBALL: Travers kills off Brackley

    Banbury United saw off local rivals Brackley at Spencer Stadium to book their place in the fourth round of the Errea Cup on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory. They went ahead after only two minutes when Ollie Stanbridge netted via a post and they kept the

  • FOOTBALL: It's high fives from Didcot

    Didcot Town made it five wins from their last five away games with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Gosport in the Errea Cup third round on Tuesday. Andy Parrott put the visitors ahead early on following a swift break, but Didcot's penalty problems continued

  • Travers kills off Brackley

    Banbury Utd 2, Brackley Tn 0 BANBURY saw off local rivals Brackley at Spencer Stadium to book their place in the fourth round of the Errea Cup. They went ahead after only two minutes when Ollie Stanbridge netted via a post and they kept the visitors

  • Woman killed in road smash

    One woman has died following a crash between two cars and a lorry on the A40 near Oxford last night. Police closed the route after junction 8a, near Wheatley, to carry out an investigation, following the accident after 11pm. The road was reopened before

  • Fans meet cricketing legend

    CRICKET legend Sir Ian Botham was in Oxford last night to sign copies of his new autobiography. The former England Test cricketer, captain and commentator, right, met fans at Borders bookshop in Magdalen Street when he signed copies of his book Head

  • Cathedral packed for service

    DIAMOND wedding couples from across the county gathered at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford last night to celebrate with royalty. Everyone who married in 1947, the same year as the Queen and Prince Philip, were invited to attend a special Evensong

  • Far right invite branded an insult

    MORE than 100 people turned out at Oxford's Town Hall last night to say they did not want BNP leader Nick Griffin and Holocaust denier David Irving to speak in the city. Mr Irving, once jailed for denying millions of Jews were executed by the Nazis,

  • Council tax relief 'cheating' denied

    A COUNTY councillor who failed to declare her monthly allowance from the council claimed more than £3,000 in council tax benefit to which she was not entitled, a court heard. Olive McIntosh-Stedman, 64, of Williamson Way, Rose Hill, Oxford, is on

  • Photo show proves big draw

    FAMILIES from Blackbird Leys packed into the Leys Linx Centre over the weekend to see the history of their estate in pictures. The project - part of the Blackbird Leys 50th anniversary celebrations - featured prints depicting all aspects of life from

  • Their goal

    The young players who have formed the All Nations' football team in Oxford have not had the best start in life. Coming from such troubled countries as Afghanistan, Iraq and Rwanda, all have experienced the horrors of war. Now, however, in Oxford, football

  • Leader offers advice to hopefuls

    BUDDING politicians have been getting tips from the professionals, in a bid to launch their careers. Reece Fox, and Nathan Sinclair, both 15, are hoping to represent north Oxfordshire in the UK Youth Parliament. And to launch their campaigns, the

  • Police put burglars to flight

    We don't hesitate to criticise our police when we feel it is justified. Equally, we are happy to praise them when things go well. One of those occasions is today as we report a significant reduction in the number of burglaries in Oxfordshire. All districts

  • Saddling up for a dream ride

    SPRIGHTLY 89-year-old Lilian Clarkin from Oxford, realised a lifelong ambition when she rode a horse for the first time. Mrs Clarkin, pictured on the horse, from Iffley Road, made it into the saddle thanks to her neighbour, horsewoman Penny Bassett

  • Brownies learn how to beat burglars

    BROWNIES in Bicester are getting a lesson in how to keep burglars at bay from Thames Valley Police. The girls from the 1st Bicester St Mary's pack are studying for their crime prevention badge. A key part of the syllabus is to "explain how to protect

  • Football unites asylum seekers

    A group of young men are finding friendship on an Oxford football field after fleeing war and persecution in their native countries. Hailing from as far afield as Afghanistan, Iraq and Rwanda, the lads all have first-hand experience of the horror of

  • Mother rides in to keep children safe

    A MOTHER-of-three was so worried about children's road safety she signed up to teach them cycling skills. Rachel Sandford, 36, spent five weeks training as a cycling instructor to give youngsters in Bletchingdon the opportunity to learn road safety

  • Coils foil pickpockets

    A LOCAL businessman has stepped forward and sponsored a Thames Valley Police anti-theft initiative in Bicester. David Thompson, of Launton, has paid for 100 key coils, which will be supplied to women in the town to help them avoid becoming victims

  • Hard-hitting DVD targets young

    A NEW hard-hitting initiative aimed at reducing the number of young drivers killed on Northamptonshire's roads was launched this week. Last year, 43 young drivers aged 17 to 24, were killed or seriously injured on the county's roads. This figure was

  • Children learn life-saving tips

    CHARLIE McPherson cannot remember a thing about his life being saved. But he's making sure he's ready to leap into action should anyone need his help. The 11-year-old pupil at Witney Community Primary School was at the town's community hospital

  • Fewer burglaries in Oxon

    Almost 500 fewer homes in Oxfordshire have fallen victim to burglars this year. There has been a 32 per cent drop in break-ins across Oxfordshire since April 1, compared to the same period in 2006. So far there have been 1,054 burglaries in Oxfordshire

  • Tribute to 'gentle boy' Andrew

    The pupil who lost his life in a road accident in Witney has been praised as a gentle boy who had a sense of humour and fun. The headteacher of Henry Box School paid tribute today to teenager Andrew Edwards and said it was a "difficult time" for the

  • Youths miss out on Chelsea tie

    Oxford United Under 18s missed out on a golden chance to face Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup when they went down 2-1 at Stevenage Borough in the second round. Things looked promising for the U's when a fine strike from Chris Fowler gave them the lead