AFTER a four-year wait, the official opening of a £60,000 skatepark on an Oxford estate has been further delayed so it can be expanded. The Frys Hill skatepark project in Blackbird Leys was due to open at the end of October, but now the formal
A DRUG dealer found with cannabis estimated to be worth more than £2,000 has been given a six-month sentence, suspended for two years. Mark Simpson, of School Road, Finstock, was found with 191g of cannabis by police officers on May 30 this year
AUTHOR Philip Pullman will plant trees in Oxford tomorrow to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Mr Pullman, who lives in Cumnor, will plant six English Oaks, one for each decade of the Queen’s reign, on land alongside Marston Ferry Road at 2.30pm
CONCERNS have been raised that a disease decimating the ash tree population could affect a North Oxford community wood. The Forest of Oxford charity planted around 2,000 ash trees at Cutteslowe Park Community Woodlands five years ago. This
JON-PAUL Pittman came off the bench to score the winner as Oxford United claimed a confidence-boosting win over in-form Northampton Town. The striker's powerful finish was his first goal since January and ended United's four-game winless run.
JUST what could aliens from the planet Zong teach humans about recycling? The answer lies in a 15-minute film produced by pupils at Kirtlington Primary School. And on Tuesday the students attended the premiere of their movie, The Cherwell Incident
THESE are the first images of what Bicester’s proposed 400-seat theatre could look like. Bicester Community College is taking the lead on the multi-million pound project, which it hopes will be a reality within five years. The facility, for
THE body representing police officers in the Thames Valley claims Christmas has been “cancelled” after the force made shift changes at short notice. Thames Valley Police has changed officer shifts on Christmas Eve from 2pm-10pm to 8pm-4am and officers
Northampton Saints 23, London Welsh 16 LONDON Welsh maintained their excellent start to the Aviva Premiership campaign with a losing bonus point at Franklin's Gardens today. It was a topsy-turvy clash full of forward power and numerous penalties
A NEW car club whose members will share vehicles to help combat climate change is launching in South Oxford tomorrow. The South Oxford Car Club will make two cars available in dedicated parking bays in Salter Close, off Whitehouse Road, and in
HOW many dangerous defects can you spot on this car? How many could you spot on your own? That was the challenge firefighters were putting to passers-by at Abingdon fire station this week. With an average of four fatalities every month and
Afternoon from a damp and dark Kassam Stadium, where in an hour Oxford United will kick-off against Northampton Town. Hopefully the game will brighten up the afternoon, all the team news, build-up and match action will follow. You can tell
IN 1942 the Second World War has been going for three years and the world was three years away from peace. It was also the year the First Wheatley Guide group was set up, and this week the company celebrated its 70th anniversary. Angela Rye, 39
SCIENTISTS of the future were inspired at an event celebrating youngsters with a talent for the subject in Oxford. The county’s best Year 13 physicists, chemists and biologists were presented with prizes at Science Oxford’s Oxfordshire Young Scientists
Kick-off is at 1pm to allow fans to watch England versus South Africa at Twickenham afterwards. Northampton have lost their last three Premiership games, but are big favourites to end that streak today. And they're off Northampton 0, Welsh
HE WAS just like he appeared on TV - that’s what a woman from Farmoor has said about Dallas actor Larry Hagman after his death. Robin Hallsmith spent several weeks being escorted around the UK by the Texan actor when he was serving in the US Air
A WOMAN living with HIV has called on people across Oxfordshire to get themselves tested for the disease. Oxford resident “Mercy”, 40, who was diagnosed in 2004 after seeking treatment for abdominal pain. The mum-of-three, who wished to remain
A NEW exhibition at Oxford’s Museum of the History of Science charts the study of the weather from Aristotle to the ozone layer. Running at the Broad Street museum until April 7 next year, the collection shows the development of meteorology through
TINY Tom Thirkell, six, was showing what he was made of at Eynsham Judo Club’s 40th birthday party. The youngest members, aged five and six, were joined by founding members Simon Goddard and Jim Chambers for a display of devastating skill.
A CAR transporter caused gridlock in Banbury and delays of up to two hours for drivers when it overturned on the M40 northbound yesterday. The vehicle ended up on its side after hitting the central reservation between Junction 11, at Banbury, and
Rutherford's slender lead in Division 1 of the Oxford & District Association was cast aside this week. Holton A led the assault, first beating Bicester B 10-0, then seeing off Rutherford 8-2, to go second. Vikings A joined in by beating
A CARE home was evacuated and residents barricaded their homes with sandbags as wet weather deluged Oxfordshire. The county has seen 62.8mm of rain since Tuesday and waterways, including the River Evenlode, have burst their banks. All 33 residents
Joseph McLean and Erin Gilchrist won four gold medals apiece as City of Oxford starred in the Milton Keynes Meet at Bletchley Leisure Centre. McLean, 12 and Gilchrist, ten, led the way as the club picked up an impressive 52-medal haul. McLean
Oxfordshire finished second in the first Ladies Senior Inter-County weekend of the season at Abingdon. Dealt a blow before the start when Rachel Donald fell ill with food poisoning, Oxon lost 3-0 to eventual winners Suffolk in the opening match
Dax Hedges is set for a full return when Oxford City Stars host Wightlink Tigers in English National League Division 2 South tomorrow (6.15pm). Hedges was restricted to light duty in last week’s 3-1 victory over Romford Fury after returning from
Trainers were left shocked and shattered following yesterday’s dramatic news that greyhound racing at Oxford Stadium will cease on December 29. Staff and trainers were given the shock news by GRA general manager Clive Feltham at 2.30 yesterday
Maori All Blacks completed their short tour of England with a 32-19 win over Canada at Iffley Road, Oxford, last night. Fly-half Willie Ripia landed 22 points from the boot for the Maoris, whose tries came from Andre Taylor and Charlie Ngatai.
Kingston Bagpuize all but sealed the Oxfordshire Cricket Board (OCB) Indoor League title after beating Tiddington by five wickets. Bagpuize top the table by two points and have a much better net run rate than second-placed Abingdon Vale. Martin
Just to add to the gloom around Oxford Stadium following the news that it was going to close down on December 29, last night’s meeting at Sandy Lane had to be abandoned due to an electrical fault. Only three races were possible before the meeting
Grogreen Lodge, runner-up to Primo Impact in the BAGS championship last week, is primed by trainer Richard Baker to land the spoils in the A1 over 450 metres at Oxford Stadium tonight. It looks a competitive top heat, with Maurice Massey’s Jolly
Kingston Bagpuize all but sealed the Oxfordshire Cricket Board (OCB) Indoor League title after beating Tiddington by five wickets. Bagpuize top the table by two points and have a much better net run rate than second-placed Abingdon Vale. Martin
LONDON Welsh head coach Lyn Jones made no apologies for focusing on the Aviva Premiership as he looked ahead to today’s clash at Northampton Saints. The Exiles have conceded 40 points in each of their last two matches – LV Cup defeats to Exeter
THE heads start turning as soon as they enter Heathrow airport. About 70 well-to-do men and women, mostly in their 50s and 60s, immaculately dressed in exquisite Victorian garb. Only the occasional bottle of Buxton water or copy of the Daily Telegraph
FLOODING experts last night warned the worst could be yet to come with further drenchings on the way. Homeowners are bracing themselves for more flooding as forecasters warned Oxfordshire was set for nearly the same amount of rain again. Rivers
A STRING of waterways through Oxfordshire remain on flood alert this morning. THE Environment Agency has updated its list of rivers at risk of flooding, with a section of the River Thames through Oxfordshire being put on flood warning.
Mickey Lewis has urged Oxford United to follow the lead of today’s opponents Northampton Town in their attempts to climb the table. The Cobblers sat deep in npower League Two’s bottom half a month ago, but they head to the Kassam Stadium in ninth
A WOMAN has defended her account of events the night homeless man Denis Witney was found badly beaten and died. Diane Hayes was giving evidence for a second day at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. Wayne Cattell, 37, of Mortimer Road, Rose Hill
A MAN was stabbed in the arm in Blackbird Leys. Police were called to a property in Warburg Crescent at 11.05am on Thursday to reports that a man had been attacked with a knife. Detectives said he suffered a deep wound to his arm and cuts to
THOUSANDS of members at a Cowley pool and snooker bar were able to play on last night after the business was rescued from administration. Rileys Sports Bar, in Between Towns Road, was one of 78 across the UK bought by private investors securing
Abingdon Conservative Club maintained their fine form with a 3-0 victory over New Club in the Gentworks Oxford League. RESULTS Oxford Bowls Club 2, Cowley Con Club B 1; Thame 0, Riley B 3; Riley A 3, Fieldside 0; Eynsham 1, Ashton 2; Abingdon
'SMART' spectacles for the blind that could take the place of white canes and guide dogs may be available in two years, according to Oxford researchers. The hi-tech glasses are designed to prevent ‘legally blind’ people with a small degree of residual
SONNY Parker has praised the role of former international teammate Gavin Henson in London Welsh’s impressive Premiership season so far. Parker and Henson were centres in Wales’ 2005 and 2008 Grand Slam winning squads and played together at the
HUDSON Tonga’uiha will face his brother, Soane, when London Welsh visit Northampton Saints today (1). London Welsh centre Hudson, 29, takes on prop Soane, 30, for the first time, although they have played together for Tonga. “I’ve always looked
Abingdon Vale brothers Alex, 17 and David Murphy, 13 broke south-east regional age group records for the 50 metre breaststroke in the level one meeting at Crawley. Fellow member Caitlin Wheatley achieved a British Championships qualifying time
A WEEK ago we saw a lamentable turnout in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections. Widespread apathy allied with, ironically, a significant protest vote by spoiling ballot papers, made it the nadir of democracy in this country. But look
THOUSANDS of people huddled together in the cold of St Giles to get ready for the Christmas season. Oxford’s Christmas Light Night took place yesterday with plenty of music, dancing and traditional festive goodwill. The evening kicked off with
A NEW £3m community centre in Rose Hill has moved a step closer after residents overwhelming backed the idea. Nearly 600 people voted in a unique community poll to have their say on whether a new centre should be built or the old one revamped.
OXFORD Stadium, which has hosted greyhound racing for more than 70 years, is to close by the end of the year. The stadium, off Sandy Lane in Blackbird Leys, will stage its last Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) meeting on Saturday, December 29
IT IS strangely poignant that the news Oxford Greyhound Stadium is to close came last night as the Oxfordshire Sports Awards were being held. Many will oppose the move, but in truth few would say that the news was surprising. The stadium has
Andy Triggs Hodge and Lily van den Broecke picked up top honours at last night’s Oxfordshire Sports Awards. The rowers, who won gold medals at the Olympics and Paralympics, were named sportsman and sportswoman of the year in a glittering ceremony
Littlemore Royal British Legion C whitewashed Witney G 6-0 to leap to the top of Gentworks Oxford & District League. Matthew Challen, Adam Brown and Jason Buck were all in top form in the Premier/ Division 1 clash. Riley B lead the way
A post mortem on human remains found after a houseboat fire in Oxford will continue today. Pathologists began their examination yesterday at the John Radcliffe Hospital following the blaze on Friday, November 16. The remains are thought to
A FORCES family separated by the war in Afghanistan have been using the power of reading to stay in touch. The Edmonds family from Carterton were among hundreds of service families nationally who took part in the Reading Force competition.
NEWS that a blueprint for up to 900 new homes in West Barton has been given the go-ahead has been cautiously welcomed in the community. As reported in yesterday’s Oxford Mail, Oxford City Council’s Barton Area Action Plan won the approval of planning
POLICE are tonight still unsure over whose remains were on board a boat gutted by fire a week ago. The canal boat Lady of the Lake was burnt out last Friday night at the Duke's Cut waterway at Wolvercote, north of Oxford, and police then found
A FLOOD warning on the section of the River Cherwell from Lower Heyford to Hampton Poyle, near Kidlington, was lifted tonight by the Environment Agency. Falling water levels have ended the immediate threat to properties along the river through
