Housewives, plumbers and bricklayers have the chance to be plucked from the streets of an Oxford estate and turned into classical singing stars in the latest reality television show. Conductor Ivore Setterfield Talent-spotters will hit Blackbird Leys
The Church of England is coming under fire over plans to buy a £2.5m house for the next Bishop of Oxford. Author Angela Huth is selling the house to the Church News that it is to purchase Pullens End, in Headington, has clashed with an emergency nationwide
Tony Blair's latest rush into ill-considered legislation, the Respect Action Plan, seems unlikely to achieve much beyond further alienation between young and old. There are already powers available to take firm action against those who make others' lives
The European Union has designated Wittenham Clumps, one of Oxfordshire's best known landmarks, as a Special Area of Conservation. The Little Wittenham Nature Reserve, with the celebrated Clumps at its centre, is to become one of 235 sites with EU recognition
Chinnor coach John Brodley praised full back James Hewitt's commitment ahead of tomorrow's home South West 1 clash with Penryn (2.30pm). Hewitt missed the first half of the season, but could now play a big role in Chinnor's promotion challenge. Brodley
Hundreds of spectators watched in horror as an Oxford driver was killed in a crash at a banger car race, an inquest was told. Dave Beauchamp, who competed all over the country, died after another competitor tried to spin him off the circuit. Hertfordshire
The housing manager of an Oxford estate has made a plea to residents to help catch illegal flytippers. Linda Jones told Rose Hill Residents' Association the problem of people dumping rubbish in the gardens of empty properties was getting worse, and clean-ups
The headteacher of an Oxfordshire secondary school named in a Government truancy blacklist said it had successfully tackled its poor attendance record. Wheatley Park School was among 198 schools included on the list, revealed under the Freedom of Information
A tractor driver was yesterday (January 19) cleared by a court over an accident which killed a 13-year-old Bicester boy. Benjamin Andrews, 28, was found not guilty of driving without due care and attention when his tractor and a school bus from Blessed
Temple Cowley Pool and the Oxford Ice Rink could be combined at a super complex when the ageing facilities need replacing. As reported in the Oxford Mail, the pool, in Temple Road, Cowley, has ivy growing though the ceiling and is in dire need of repair
Former Oxford United midfielder Dave Waterman is on the brink of retiring from football to spend more time with his family. The popular midfielder, who Ian Atkins bought to the Kassam Stadium from Portsmouth in March 2002, had been playing for Weymouth
Brian Talbot admitted Oxford United just could not afford Lee Peacock's wages after the 30-year-old striker yesterday joined arch rivals Swindon Town instead. The U's boss was among those who had been alerted to Peacock's release by Sheffield Wednesday
BANBURY United manager Kevin Brock has warned his players not to switch off for a second when they travel to Southern League Premier Division basement boys Cheshunt tomorrow. While Banbury have beaten high-fliers Chippenham, Bath City, King's Lynn, Tiverton
Oxford Cheetahs' speedway promoter Aaron Lanney has been foiled in his bid to sign top Norwegian racer Rune Holta. Lanney held talks this week with the rider, who races on a Polish licence and was a mainstay of Poland's team which swept to glory in the
Abingdon Town have suffered a huge blow after striker Danny Wise left to join rivals Witney - just a month after the former Oxford City ace joined from Kidlington, writes Kieren Bushnell. Paul Jezzard is set to return for their home Premier League clash
I was appalled to read what Sarah Morris wrote about my brother and sister-in-law, Family of nine is nothing to be proud of (Oxford Mail, January 11). My brother is a full-time builder who supports his family and does not ask for state payouts. He receives
As much as I am outraged by the use of animals in testing human medications, I am even more saddened to see a minority of people use a supposedly 'peaceful' demonstration in Oxford on Saturday as an excuse to battle authority (Oxford Mail, January 16)
The Bible says we should not get hung up on material things and puts a life of honest poverty high above one of indulgent luxury. So when the Church of England announces plans to fork out £2.5 million on a six-bedroom mansion to house the next Bishop
Motorists have paid more than £1,000 a week in penalties since a parking fine scheme was launched at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital. Managers have decided to get tough on drivers who do not abide by the strict rules at the site, and are warning them
Three girls under the age of 18 are given free morning-after pills every month by Oxford pharmacists to prevent un- wanted pregnancies. Four high street chemists have been offering the emergency contraception to girls for 18 months, and so far 62 teenagers
In the unlikely event of our introducing the death penalty for drug dealers, as Steve Chandler suggests (Oxford Mail, December 28), many of them would probably switch to the manufacturing of rope, or its state-of-the-art equivalent, which would then become
I have read with interest the comments and letters about the uncollected rubbish over Christmas at Blackbird Leys, Oxford. Every household in the city has a leaflet each year stating the changes to the collection days over holiday periods and it is not
FInanciaL problems at Oxfordshire County Council has prompted the authority to hire four consultants, at a cost of £1m, to sort the mess out. The ailing 'Abacus' computer software system, introduced in 1993, and a new Systems Applications Package (Sap
