Stories for 6 January 2004

Oxfordshire Business

Profits suffer slump as Unipart regroups

Warehousing and logistics giant Unipart has suffered a major slide in its fortunes, new figures have revealed.   more...

Business restyled

Another new business has opened in Abingdon after £100,000 was spent transforming a former cafe into a hairdressers.   more...

Company perk's a Merc

A woman received a surprise bonus when her employer, Oxfordshire tycoon Sir Richard Branson, gave her a new Mercedes CLK.   more...

Town logs on to shops

Wallingford is one of the top 10 towns in the country for people buying their groceries through the Internet.   more...

Oxfordshire Education

Staff put country topics on agenda

Field studies officers from outdoor centres and nature reserves around the country are sampling the delights of the Oxfordshire countryside this week.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Train fares increase outstrips inflation

Rail passengers in Oxfordshire are paying more for their journeys this week.   more...

Ticket machine theft costs £56K

Thieves who target parking ticket machines in Oxford have cost council taxpayers at least £56,500.   more...

Driver hits out over lowered car barrier

A driver has criticised an Oxford shopping centre after her 4X4 hit a car park barrier that had been reduced in height without warning.   more...

Council acts to try to recover £15m of debt

New methods of chasing £15.8m worth of debt owed to Oxford City Council have been agreed, following criticism from the District Auditor.   more...

Profits suffer slump as Unipart regroups

Warehousing and logistics giant Unipart has suffered a major slide in its fortunes.   more...

Talking postcard pours out abuse

When a recordable postcard fell through Richard Harrison's letterbox he expected to hear the voice of his fiancÈe, Vanessa Sercombe.   more...

Bus link future under scrutiny

The future of a north Oxford bus service is under review by the county council.   more...

Cinema re-opens after fire scare

Oxford's new multiplex cinema is fully open again after safety checks following a false fire alarm at the venue.   more...

Man charged with raping boy

A man charged with raping a boy and assaulting two other boys over a period of seven years has appeared at Oxford's Crown Court for trial.   more...

Campaign produces safer bus stop site

Abus stop used by people with learning difficulties on a busy road at Milton Heights, near Didcot, has been moved to a safer position.   more...

Cracking crime

New-style policing is being used to fight crime in Banbury.   more...

Court date

A woman charged with perverting the course of justice has appeared at Oxford Crown Court.   more...

Disco aims to say thanks

Danny and Theresa Dyer are hosting a third annual fundraising disco in aid of a charity that has helped their daughter Victoria, who has cerebral palsy.   more...

Puppy plea

Six-year-oldLydia McMahon is distraught after her pedigree bulldog puppy, Dixie, was stolen from her family's Wantage home on New Year's Eve.   more...

Meet MP and aid church's appeal

An evening with South Oxfordshire MP Boris Johnson is the latest idea by Christchurch, Thame, to help raise the money it needs to finance modernisation work.   more...

Leap lands charity cash

A former Witney woman has proved the sky is no limit when it comes to raising money for charity.   more...

Help hospital fight, urges mayor

Wallingford mayor Betty Atkins wants residents to join the campaign to save the town's hospital.   more...

Road closures cause diversions

Drivers entering the centre of Wallingford face diversions during three weeks of road closures.   more...

Business restyled

Another new business has opened in Abingdon after £100,000 was spent transforming a former cafe into a hairdressers.   more...

Cheating the speed camera

An Oxford man is selling a spray he claims makes number plates invisible to speed cameras.   more...

Bank plans gift for the elderly

Unwanted Christmas gifts are being offered a new home -- at an Oxford bank.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

U's line up Foran loan

Oxford United manager Ian Atkins was hoping to sign Carlisle striker Richie Foran on a month's loan in time for January 6's Division 3 trip to Swansea City.   more...

Rugby: Quins owe it to Penney

South West 1   more...

Darts: Bywaters eyes up world crown

Clare Bywaters, Didcot's reigning European women's singles champion, has set her sights on the world crown after reaching the semi-finals at the Lakeside Leisure Centre, Frimley Green.   more...

Rugby: Super Hawks shoot down the Shoguns

National League 1   more...

Motorsport: Williams aiming to end drought

The Grove-based Williams took the wraps off a radical Formula 1 car which the team hope will end the longest title drought in their history.   more...

Rugby: Banbury fail to hold out

Midlands 2 East   more...

Football: Marriott back at Didcot

OXFORD City defender Andy Marriott has returned to his former club Didcot Town after only a handful of games for the Ryman League Division 1 outfit.   more...