Two kitchen fires broke out in homes without smoke alarms. The first, at about 9.30am on Monday, was caused by a plastic high chair on top of an electric hob which caught fire in a house in Green Road, Risinghurst. Firefighter Dan Smith said
On Monday, Chancellor George Osborne unveiled tougher rules for those claiming benefits including the long-term unemployed undertaking work placements in return for their benefits. Is this a good idea? YES: James Woollard, from Polythene UK Ltd
Crimewatch presenters Nick Ross, pictured, and Sue Cooke will be in Sheep Street, Bicester, on Saturday to warn people about burglaries. They will offer crime prevention advice at a Thames Valley Police event from 10am to 2pm.
Ardington & Lockinge Res saw off lower league opponents Grove Rangers Res 3-2 after extra time in the first round of the North Berks League's AG Kingham Cup. Danny Ferguson and Matt Cramp scored for Grove, but Ardington went through thanks
No arrests have been made following a suspected arson attack at a telephone exchange. The fire brigade was called at 9.39am on Friday to the fire in Queen’s Avenue, Bicester, near the BT telephone exchange building. No one was injured, but
AN exhibition created to mark the 50th anniversary of Pegasus Theatre is to go on show at Wolfson College, Oxford. Photographer David Fisher was commissioned in 2011 to capture the theatre’s history in readiness for it to reopen in revamped larger
The Countess of Carnarvon was at WHSmith in Cornmarket Street, Oxford, for a book signing event on Saturday. Her husband owns Highclere Castle, where television series Downton Abbey is filmed. She was in demand to sign copies of her latest
OXFORD University has been ranked as the top university in terms of its social media presence. The guide on the unipod website, which ranks universities according to their presence on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, showed Oxford University was
BEHIND the roads policing team’s regular seatbelt checks and speeding tickets is the desire to save lives. Chief Inspector Henry Parsons, head of the Thames Valley Police’s roads police team, says: “We are not in the business of making money.
SANDFORD residents are invited to a meeting on Monday about tackling speeding in the village. An action plan is to be drawn up by Sandford-on-Thames Parish Council over concerns. This year alone police have detected 112 driving offences in
RESIDENTS are getting increasingly frustrated by flytippers dumping their trash like this pile of clothes off Normandy Crescent in Cowley. The clothes were left in the street on Monday and cleaned up by Oxford City Council in a few hours. But
A PROJECT to upgrade a West Oxford church has been launched. The £50,000 revamp of St Frideswide Church, in Botley Road, is set to start in May next year. A new heating system is to be installed and the main entrance stripped back to its original
BARTON residents are being asked to help shape the future of the estate after a huge 885-home development was approved. Plans to develop land west of the estate were approved in principle by Oxford City Council last Tuesday. Now people on the
WE HAVE said this before but again we encourage the people living in Barton and its surrounds to get involved in what facilities they want to see built as part of the Barton West development. The new estate is coming and will have an impact.
A CHURCH has launched a Harvest Festival appeal to raise at least £10,500 to pay to plant 750 trees in Palestine. St Mary’s, Iffley, supported the Olive Tree Campaign last year and raised £12,000 – which meant that 850 trees were planted. A
ARMED police have arrested three men on the M40 this afternoon. The suspects’ grey Volkswagen Golf was stopped on the northbound side of the motorway near to Bicester shortly before 2pm and the road was briefly shut off. The men were arrested
A NEW neighbourhood group has been set up in Marston to bring the community closer together and help older people get up to speed with computer skills. The New Marston Hub is run by Pastor Marcus Roberts of the Rivers of Life Church. The first
PLANS have been submitted to create 18 parking spaces on a grass verge – but the reaction from residents has been mixed. Oxford City Council has put in a planning application for 18 spaces where Blackbird Leys Road meets Balfour Road. The council
WITH drummers, guitarists, singers and saxophonists you would be forgiven for thinking this was a festival line-up. But these musicians from eight acts will be lining the route of 5,500 runners in the Oxford Half Marathon on Sunday October 13.
TWO charities are set to benefit from the generosity of church goers on Oxford’s Barton estate. St Mary’s Church held its annual harvest festival service on Sunday, and goods donated by worshippers were processed through the church as part of the
A SCHOOL library has been named after a former pupil who was one of the first soldiers injured in the First World War. The Ratcliffe Library was officially opened at Our Lady’s Abingdon last week in honour of Captain Bertram Ratcliffe. Mr Ratcliffe
THE curtain came down on the Oxfordshire Summer Quiz League season lwith the presentation evening held at the North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown). Fittingly, every side in both sections, Premier and One, turned up, not only to witness the
COTSWOLD Wildlife Park was filled with walkers and wheelers at the weekend for a sponsored event in aid of a local school. Children, families and staff from Springfield Special School, in Witney took part in the sponsored wheel and walk around
RESPONSE times have improved for the NHS’s non-emergency 111 service, though bosses say it has “not quite matched expectations”. Latest figures, for July show 96 per cent of calls were answered in 60 seconds, the first time they have hit a target
YARNTON businesses have leapt to the defence of a B&B over a planning battle with council chiefs. They said Blenheim Edge Guest House in Woodstock Road provides a vital service to the village. It opened in 2011 in but did not get permission
Two iconic Oxfordshire institutions celebrated their centenary over the weekend. Hertford Bridge, popularly known as the Bridge of Sighs, celebrated its 100th birthday. And Hertford College marked the occasion with a special cake and invited
BB&O PREMIER DIVISION FOUR tries from wing Ben Bodinham helped Gosford All Blacks crush Phoenix 57-0 and go top of the table. Gosford opened the scoring with a second-minute try from fly half Harry Sutton, converted by Tim Ellis. They
A LONG-AWAITED Botley housing scheme could be approved tomorrow, six years after plans were put on hold over flooding fears. Vale of White Horse District Council’s planning committee will consider the 136-home plan tomorrow night. The Lime
A father grabbed his son around the throat after drinking seven pints of lager, a court heard. Peter Wright, 56, had been out drinking with colleagues and began arguing with his wife when he arrived home. Oxford Magistrates’ Court was told
Staff at the city’s two universities are being balloted on strike action after being offered a one per cent pay rise. Oxford and Oxford Brookes universities are among higher institutions all over the country being asked to vote on strike action
A WOMAN will today have both her healthy breasts removed. Louise Preece said she has been overwhelmed by the wave of support from her home town and even complete strangers since going public with her plan in an exclusive interview in the Oxford
BB&O CHAMPIONSHIP JAMIE Cantwell scored a club record seven tries as Harwell hammered Kingsclere 77-17. The hosts led 41-7 at half-time, with Cantwell (4), Rob Douglas (2) and Andy Lee scoring tries, Lee converting three. Cantwell (
A TEENAGER has appeared in court charged with grievous bodily harm after a fight between two groups at the weekend. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been remanded in custody, but magistrates’ granted him bail yesterday
A 10-year-old boy has been treated in hospital after he was bitten by a dog. The child was walking in East Street, Bodicote, when he was bitten on the thigh by the brown dog, which was on a lead, at 4.30pm on Thursday. Police said the dog’s
A man has admitted thefts at Oxford shops worth a total of almost £1,000. Daniel Ryan, 26, pleaded guilty to five thefts between April 25 and September 29 at various supermarkets and shops across the city. He stole various alcohol, food and
MAKING art in the woods rocks. The Friends of Magdalen Wood, Wood Farm, Oxford, have created a decorative spiral among the trees to beautify the woodland scene. On Sunday, children of the group left offerings to the wood fairies on the spiral
AN undercover police officer has denied ‘fitting-up’ staff at a scrapyard accused of buying stolen metal. A jury in Oxford Crown Court yesterday heard from one half of the team that posed as metal thieves as part of a sting operation at TR Rogers
SOUTHERN COUNTIES NORTH WALLINGFORD could not hold on to their lead in a 29-10 defeat at Aylesbury. The visitors went 7-3 up in the first half, although they were ultimately made to pay for an erratic display. Gary Horne put Aylesbury ahead
INTERMEDIATE CUP BANBURY Bulls bowed out in the first Midlands round of the national competition after a 31-16 home defeat to Dunstabalians. Bulls fielded a much-changed youthful side and Dunstablians’ greater experience told in the end with
Steve McClaren has set his sights on returning Derby County to the top flight of English football after being appointed head coach on a three-year contract. The 52-year-old former Oxford United midfielder and England boss succeeds Nigel Clough,
A drunk driver was caught by police when she had no lights turned on in her car. Anne May, 59, was stopped by officers on Woodstock Road, Oxford, on September 14. May, of Foxcombe Road, Boars Hill, was breathalysed and had 57 microgrammes of
A man who told police he was carrying a knife in a public place to steal number plates has avoided jail. Earlier this year Andrew Richardson, of The Phelps, Kidlington, was cleared of threatening his former girlfriend with a power drill and holding
Christopher Goard said his flu vaccine was a “pretty painless experience” as the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust started its flu immunisation programme yesterday. The annual programme is one of the biggest staff immunisation programmes within
NATIONAL 2 SOUTH WILL Millett shone as Chinnor made it four straight wins with a 27-15 home success against Redruth. The fly half scored two tries and kicked ten points to keep Chinnor in second place, just a point behind Clifton, who also
SOUTH WEST 1 EAST ZACK Norris scored 27 points as Oxford Harlequins roared to a 57-7 victory at basement boys Salisbury. Fly half Norris bagged two tries, seven conversions and a penalty to lead Quins to a fourth straight win. A defensive
OVER the summer I got in lots of rides around Otmoor and beyond. While I usually prefer the traffic-free benefits of mountain biking, I’ve found myself more and more riding on-road. Cleaning a mountain bike even after a dry-ish summertime ride can
ANIMAL Aid would like to thank the people of Oxford for their generosity in raising £186.88 at a street collection on September 26. The money will help fund our peaceful campaigns and our important educational work on all aspects of animal cruelty
Oxford Hawks put up a fighting display but still bowed out of the NOW: Pensions Men’s Cup . They were beaten 4-1 by Reading, with their consolation coming from Dave Cresswell. Witney saw off Newbury 3-1 in a friendly with Scott Summers (2) and
IF THE HS2 rail plan is such a good idea, why is it that the taxpayer will fund its cost? Why not the rail companies and all of these wealthy MPs who think it’s a good idea? Put your money where your mouth is, pro-HS2 fanatics. GLYN LIMMER
Oxfordshire will be without former World No 1 Deta Hedman for the weekend’s home BDO Iner- Counties Championship Premier Division clash with Warwickshire. Hedman, who showed her recent good form by beating major rival Trina Gulliver 4-3 in the
A FREEZE on energy prices? Well, something needs to be done as costs go up and incomes stand still. Now after just the mention of a price freeze, the energy companies’ answer is to resort to the threat of power cuts. This despite their current
I POPPED in to the Wantage Civic Hall to look at a display for the proposed Crab Hill development. I found myself among other anxious and angry residents, who are also worried about the probable impact of 1,500 houses on the site. I should say
Manager Mike Ford is confident Oxford City can pull off an upset after they were drawn away to Skrill South leaders Eastleigh in the FA Cup third qualifying round on Saturday, October 12, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. The Hampshire side, managed by former
Chipping Norton’s Alice Powell is set for a F3 Cup title showdown after she was knocked off the top of the standings following a disappointing weekend at Donington Park, Leicestershire. The Mark Bailey Racing team driver was replaced as the championship
A 19-year-old from Barton, Oxford, has been handed a three-year detention sentence after he was convicted of a burglary in Kidlington. Ethan Woodley, of Sherwood Place, was imprisoned yesterday after carrying out the crime on May 12 last year.
Three drugs suspects have been rebailed by police investigating an organised crime gang in Oxford. A man, 59, and woman, 60, were arrested in Waynflete Road, Barton, in dawn raids in July. The pair were arrested on suspicion of possession with
COUNCIL housing officials could borrow up to £121m to build 3,000 homes both in and outside Oxford if a bid for extra power from Government is approved. Oxford City Council wants the Government to allow it to increase the amount it can borrow from
NATIONAL 1 HENLEY Hawks slipped to 12th in the table after a 32-15 defeat at Coventry. Injury-hit Hawks were also missing locks Josh McNally and Dave Clements (both unavailable), but back-row forwards Will Woodward and Liam Dwyer filled in
Briony Hearn and Bex Oakes put in starring roles as Oxford Hawks Ladies took the honours in the Investec League Conference West clash at Exeter. Stout defending from Hearn was key as the visitors, led by skipper Oakes, held on for a 2-1 win.
AT A Macmillan Coffee Morning (Friday, September 27) at Ryegrass Common Room, Woodstock, Gwen Mason raised the sum of £900 for the cancer charity. This brings the total raised by Gwen for Macmillan to £10,711. A magnificent amount for a worthwhile
Goodlake Arms B are celebrating their first Greene King Oxford and District Darts Association title. The East Challow side lost just four matches all season in taking the honours in Section 1. Below them, a 7-2 victory for Peachcroft Social
THE East Oxford Area Planning Committee meeting (September 24) regarding outline planning permission for the Barton build was a sham. Murray Hancock (Oxford city officer) informed councillors that the meeting was too short notice for Thames Water
JASON Plato hailed victory in race two at Silverstone as one of the best of his British Touring Car Championship career after coming out on top in an enthralling battle with Andrew Jordan. The Oxford driver won two of the three races, taking his
A jury has gone out to consider its verdict in the case of a man accused of sexually abusing a young girl. Bradley Antill, of Fulmar Place, Grove, near Wantage, has been charged with one count of rape, five counts of sexual assault and eight counts
TWO organised crime bosses have been ordered to pay back £221,000 of their ill-gotten gains. Brothers Nicholas and Jason Dean were jailed for eight and a half years and four and a half years respectively last March. Nicholas Dean, 48, of Roman
James Constable’s willingness to play through the pain is an example of the attitude in Oxford United’s squad, according to manager Chris Wilder. The striker made a surprise return to the squad on Saturday, just three weeks after chipping a bone
AN AMERICAN has said Oxford is a “haven” for theft after his laptop was snatched in a coffee shop. Entrepreneur and former lawyer John Moore was in the Blackwell’s Bookshop cafe when he turned his back on his new £1,000 computer. But when he
A decision is expected “imminently”on one of Oxfordshire’s main rail networks. The First Great Western service includes train routes from London Paddington to south Wales, the Cotswolds and the west of England. A new 15-year franchise should
OLIVER Tite will be hoping local knowledge pays off as the Frilford Heath member begins European Tour Qualifying on his home course. The four-round event is one of eight held across Europe. It forms the first step to earning a card on the full
MOTORISTS will soon face £100 fines for driving at 24mph in Oxford if a police plan to crackdown on those breaking 20mph limits goes ahead. Only drivers travelling at 32mph or more can currently be given tickets in zones introduced across the city
OXFORD’S 20mph zones have been controversial since the day they were brought in, in part because in some eyes it seemed a vanity project undone by a complete lack of enforcement. Oxfordshire County Council spent £250,000 on changing the speed limit
MATTY Graham celebrated a second place at Donington Park as the Sean Walkinshaw Racing (SWR) driver finished fourth in the inaugural BRDC Formula 4 Championship season. The 17-year-old rookie finished just four points shy of the top three.
THE first thing that strikes you about 2000trees when you walk through its modest gates is the size of the festival. The site at Upcote Farm, in Withington near Cheltenham, is so small you can walk from one end to the other in about 15 minutes.
THE Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League has confirmed the provisional promotion and relegation changes for the end of this season. The normal system has been changed due to Carswell’s exit last month. If they do not re-apply for the 2014
SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE Section 1 Chipping Norton 1 (1pt), Oxford City 2 (3) (Chippy scores first): S Kench & C Denton bt C Marriott & G Hoult 1 hole, S Allen & C Dyer lost to M Hall & S Tabor 5 & 4, W Preece
A FORMER world heavyweight boxing champion visited an Oxfordshire boxing club to pass on his experience in the ring. Tim Witherspoon became World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion in 1986 and went on to defeat challenger Frank Bruno
A SPORTS store is to move into a Headington shop previously eyed up by coffee chain Costa and a bookmakers. Up and Running – facing eviction from 83 London Road – will move into the former Cartridge World store in the street. The firm, which
