The Duchess of Cornwall met children and young adults at Helen and Douglas House Hospice in Oxford today as she opened a new garden. Helen House in Magdalen Street, East Oxford, which cares for children with life-limiting illnesses, is celebrating its
A 'neighbour from hell' has been given an interim Antisocial Behaviour Order (Asbo). Stephen O'Leary, 47, has already been banned from using Stagecoach buses for his threatening behaviour. At Banbury Magistrates Court today, a judge heard he subjected
A young girl who claims she was made to film a woman performing a sex act was today accused of lying. Christine Nicolson, 53, is alleged to have made the girl point a webcam at her while she carried out acts for an Internet chatroom user in February
New Attorney General, Baroness Scotland of Asthal, has 28 days to decide whether to refer the case of Oxford paedophile Keith Fenn to the Appeal Court. This week, the Crown Prosecution Service called for a review of an "unduly lenient" sentence passed
Troubled Morris Motors Athletic and Social Club has been saved from extinction. It won a last-minute reprieve from liquidation at London's High Court on Wednesday after developer Eddie Costello paid off debts, including an outstanding VAT bill. Mr
Youngsters from Oxford and beyond descended on Cutteslowe Park yesterday for a huge children's party. Despite rain threatening to spoil proceedings, scores of under-fives packed into the park with their parents or childminders to enjoy the many activities
A distraught mother says the outcome of an inquest into the death of her son who committed suicide at Bullingdon Prison has failed to deliver justice. Sue Woods, 51, of The Grove, in Abingdon, believes her son Stephen would be alive today if a series
Bicester should not lose the opportunity to secure its "long-promised" third secondary school, a town councillor has warned. Bicester Town Council discussed its response to a consultation on the future of secondary education in the town. Members decided
Teenager Sophie Fleet had to go one better than her sister when she prepared for her Witney school leaving party. The 16-year-old Wood Green pupil prevailed on her father to arrange for a 60-tonne HGV recovery lorry to take her "in style", dressed in
Rio has the glamour, New Orleans has the style, and Notting Hill has the gun crime. But you don't have to travel to exotic destinations for a taste of carnival flavour. One of the coolest and safest little street festivals anywhere takes place right
FIXTURES. SATURDAY. CRICKET. UNIVERSITY MATCH Cambridge Univ v Oxford Univ (Fenners, 1st day of 4). SOMMERS HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Div 1: Banbury v Finchampstead, Henley v Oxford. Div 2 West: Gerrards Cross v Aston Rowant, Kidlington v Tring
FORMER Witney MP Shaun Woodward, who defected from the Conservatives to Labour, has been named Northern Ireland Secretary. Mr Woodward crossed the divide in 1999 after only two years as Witney MP, a post now held by David Cameron. But this morning
RESULTS. CRICKET. MINOR COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP Western Division Swansea: Wales 81-3 (20.3 ovs, K Arnold 3-22) v Oxfordshire abandoned. NPOWER VILLAGE CUP Oxfordshire final: Horspath v Oxford Downs - abandoned. SOMMERS HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE
Double world champion Frances Houghton, of Wheatley, suffered a rare defeat in the GB women's quad scull at the World Cup regatta in Amsterdam. Houghton had to be satisfied with a silver, bettered on the Bosbaan, as were many other top performers, by
Keith Arnold moved a step closer to becoming Oxfordshire's all-time leading wicket taker, but rain had the last laugh in their Western Division clash match against Wales. Veteran 'Arnie' took all three wickets as Oxon restricted their opponents to 81
A CYBER-STALKER who carried out a "vicious, vitriolic and vindictive" harassment campaign against a July 7 bombing survivor was jailed today. Campaigner Rachel North, 36, feared for her safety after Oxford-based researcher Felicity Jane Lowde, 41, used
Oxford's Bradley Smith admitted a wrong tyre choice didn't help his cause as he took a bruising before finishing seventh in the 125cc race at the Nickel & Dime British Grand Prix at Donington. Smith overcame a tough preparation, which included one big
Simon Purnell and Andy Baulch have quit as coaches of Banbury and Bicester despite successful seasons. Purnell, who led Banbury to promotion from Midlands 3 East South, has stepped down due to family and work commitments. He will be replaced by fly
It proved a Royal Ascot to remember for West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon as long-shots Nijoom Dubai and Championship Point gave him a monster double. The former Southampton and England footballer had been out of luck on the first three days of Flat
Oxford United defender Luke Foster says he can't wait for the season to start after signing a one-year deal with the U's. He joins Chris Willmott and Yemi Odubade, who have penned two-year deals, Matt Day who has signed a year-long contract extension
Oxfordshire will hope Challow & Childrey continues to be a happy hunting ground when they host Suffolk in Sunday's semi-final. Having soundly beaten Herefordshire in the championship there earlier this month, Oxon know a repeat of that form should give
Cycling looks set to get safer on an Oxford estate after councillors agreed to the creation of a bike lane on a notoriously dangerous bend. City councillors have provisionally agreed to spend £63,000 widening the sharp, narrow bend which links Barton
Poker player Mark Rayson is hoping to come back from Las Vegas with some duty-free in his luggage - a staggering $12m. Mr Rayson, 21, a computer science student at Oxford Brookes University, has got lucky by winning a place at the table in the world's
Utility boxes covered in scruffy, torn, illegal flyposters blight many streets in Oxford - but new contracts are being drawn up to help combat the problem. Agreements could soon be in place that would allow Oxford's utility boxes to be cleared of adverts
Abingdon's much maligned new traffic system came in for a battering when critics launched a fierce onslaught at a public meeting. More than 250 people packed into the town's Guildhall and left transport planners in no doubt that they wanted to see changes
A restoration project costing more than £1m has restored a historic recreation ground and garden to its Victorian splendour. The Abbey Grounds restoration in Abingdon has taken almost five years to complete and was funded by a £826,000 grant from the
Bicester could face gridlock as work on five major developments look set to coincide, councillors have warned. Work on Bicester Village's £20m expansion, the 1,585-home south-west development, the new £70m town centre, a major extension at Wyevale garden
Children's favourite Postman Pat is to join David Gray and Blondie at this year's Cornbury Festival. So too is Rupert Bear, in a late addition to the line-up of the weekend music event in the grounds of Cornbury Park, near Charlbury. The two storybook
When the best you can say about a film is that it's not as bad as you'd feared, that can't be said to be a ringing endorsement. This franchise has gone further than some of its predecessors in spawning not only the familiar merchandise pitched at the
Quentin Tarantino lends his name, as executive producer, to Eli Roth's stomach-churning torture fantasy, which follows the entrail-slathered template of the first film, but with three girls as the unsuspecting victims. The bloodletting is so graphic
She shouldn't have done it. It was dangerous. She could have hurt herself, injured someone else or even been victim of an assault some might argue she asked for. But . . . The scene was Cornmarket Street in that busy period before lunch. She was small
Two Oxfordshire beauty queens are checking their make-up as they prepare to compete for the Miss England crown this weekend. In May, Tonya Iasisen, 20, from Yarnton, a former pupil at The Marlborough School in Woodstock, was crowned Miss Oxford. Miss
A pet-lover believes catnappers may have snatched his rare Snow Spotted Bengal cat. Dale Cullen, of Brookfields, pff Fettiplace Road, Barton, in Oxford, said his three-and-a-half year old cat Lily had been missing since Monday, June 11. Mr Cullen
It might have been competing with Glastonbury, but organisers of a music festival held in a small north Oxfordshire village say it was a huge success. The Commotion Music Festival took place in Kingham on Saturday and, while it couldn't boast a line-up
You've probably heard that the Lemon Tree is closing for good, which would explain the wailing echoing all over the city as Oxford's diners go into mourning for one of their all-time favourite restaurants. The history bit: Clinton Pugh first opened
AEA Technology 119.5 BMW 3200.5 Electrocomponents 264.75 Isoft Group 48.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 154 Oxford Biomedica 40.75 Oxford Instruments 292 Reed Elsevier 634.75 RM 209.5 RPS Group 350.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
A cyber-stalker who carried out a "vicious, vitriolic and vindictive" harassment campaign against a July 7 bombing survivor was jailed today. Campaigner Rachel North, 36, feared for her safety after Oxford-based researcher Felicity Jane Lowde, 41, used
Former Witney MP Shaun Woodward, who defected from the Conservatives to Labour, has been named Northern Ireland Secretary. Mr Woodward crossed the divide in 1999 after only two years as Witney MP, a post now held by David Cameron. But this morning
New Cabinet Prime minister: Gordon Brown (formerly Tony Blair) Chancellor: Alistair Darling (formerly Gordon Brown) Foreign Secretary: David Miliband (formerly Margaret Beckett) Home Secretary: Jacqui Smith (formerly John Reid) Health: Alan Johnson
RAIL commuters were subjected to severe delays this morning following a signal failure at Oxford's Wolvercote junction. Services suffering major delays included the 5.11am from Abergavenny to London Paddington, the 6.50am from Worcester Foregate Street
Launched in March, the Multicultural Book and Toy Library at the Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground offers a selection of toys and books to members of the Starlight Black Child Mixed Heritage Group and to local residents in the Blackbird Leys and Greater
CHRIS KOENIG examines the days when the term 'social conscience' was yet to be invented Ambivalent attitudes towards immigration are nothing new. Nor apparently is the instinct (perhaps unworthy) of those already settled in a place to try to maintain
VAL BOURNE looks at new ways of getting the best from your roses Roses are still as popular as ever and were voted the nation's favourite flower in a poll held in May 2006. But roses are used in a very different way now, usually with mixed planting
Schools impress judges at the Earthwatch Oxford Student debate on green projects to transform their local environment, writes THERESA THOMPSON Picture this: You are aged 11 and about to stand in front of teachers from the Geographical Association
OPPOSITION councillors - Labour in particular - have homed in on poor old Mohammed Altaf-Khan, executive member for a safer city, as the Liberal Democrats weakest link, ahead of next week's full council meeting. Why? Well those nasty Labour councillors
An antiques treasure hunt is helping raise funds for the St Mary the Virgin roof appeal in Bampton, writes SYLVIA VETTA Ageing Cotswold roof slates are the reason for the presence of fine art auctioneers and valuers at Bampton Manor on July 12.
DAVID BELLAN talks to choreographer Siobhan Davies, whose company is at the Oxford Playhouse next week Siobhan Davies is a product of that former nucleus of creative talent, London Contemporary Dance Theatre. Now, with an international reputation
I am going on holiday with my family in August. We are going to Skye, with a brief weekend pit-stop in Glasgow on the way up for a wedding. The plan is to drive, rather than fly, and after seeing the carbon emissions released by a meagre plane trip to
REG LITTLE talks to festival favourites Hothouse Flowers and newcomer Kate Walsh ahead of the Cornbury Festival When it comes to the perfect setting for a July music festival, it is difficult to imagine how Lord Rotherwick's estate at Cornbury
AEA Technology 119.5 BMW 3213 Electrocomponents 267.25 Isoft Group 48.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 154.5 Oxford Biomedica 40.25 Oxford Instruments 291.5 Reed Elsevier 632.75 RM 208.75 RPS Group 350 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
DR CHRIS DAVIS praises the people overlooked when history is made - the designers and technicians Can anyone name Christopher Columbus's shipbuilder? I'm sure someone in Oxford will be able to but I know I can't. History, it seems, only remembers
Bradley Smith will not ride at the Dutch TT in Assen on Saturday after being involved in a collision with Italian Andrea Iannone is the first 125 cc practice session in Assen this morning. The 16-year-old rider, from Wheatley, broke a bone in his left
An Oxford travel company, which has carried off two top environmental best practice awards, is expanding - into smaller offices. Alternative Travel Group (ATG), which provides walking tours, is to move into the top two floors of the former Oxfam building
Troubled Morris Motors Athletics and Social Club has been saved from extinction. It won a last minute reprieve from liquidation at London's High Court yesterday after developer Eddie Costello paid off debts including an outstanding VAT bill. Mr Costello
Oxford East MP Andrew Smith, a member of the Cabinet under Tony Blair, said he was not expecting a phone call from new Prime Minister Gordon Brown today. Mr Brown was expected to announce his Cabinet today, with wholesale changes anticipated. Last
Rail commuters were subjected to severe delays this morning following a signal failure at Oxford's Wolvercote junction. Services suffering major delays included the 5.11am from Abergavenny to London Paddington, the 6.50am from Worcester Foregate Street
OXFORD United defender Luke Foster says he can't wait for the season to start after signing a one-year deal with the U's. oFoster joins Chris Willmott and Yemi Odubade, who have penned two-year deals, Matt Day, who has signed a year-long contract extension
After his five-set 60-game epic against Carlos Moya, Tim Henman's second-round match at Wimbledon last night proved a damp squib. His Centre Court contest with Spain's Feliciano Lopez lasted only a few minutes as play was halted by rain after just two
CUSTOMERS fear it could take up to 18 months to fully refurbish The Perch in Binsey following a serious fire. Last month, a blaze ripped through the thatched roof of the popular Perch pub in Binsey, severely damaging the roof and the interior. More
A LACK of staff meant prison officers were unable to provide the usual level of care for a recovering drug addict who committed suicide, an inquest was told. Stephen Woods, 23, from Abingdon, was found hanged in his cell in the segregation unit at Bullingdon
PATIENTS treated at home will be ordered to visit their health centre for care if they refuse to stop smoking in front of community health staff. Although smoking will be banned in the work place from Sunday, July 1, the law - a bid to prevent passive
A GIRL was made to film a woman performing sex acts for an internet chatroom user, a court has heard. Former Stagecoach employee Christine Nicolson, 53, is alleged to have made the girl point a webcam at her while she carried out the graphic acts in
CYCLISTS are continuing to jump red lights at a key Oxford city centre junction - despite a recent death and the threat of fines. In a second police spot check yesterday plain clothes officers caught nearly 80 cyclists riding through red lights at the
Banbury Chestnuts maintained their narrow lead at the top of Division 2 with a seven-shot victory over promotion rivals Shiplake in the Oxford & District League, sponsored by Yarnton Nurseries Garden Centre. Both sides produced two winning rinks, but
The England deaf team are to train at Witney Lakes this summer thanks to their links with a new professional based at the club. Andrew Etherington, 30, is one of four pros working for John Cook's School of Golf, which opened at Witney in April. He
NATIONAL OVER 55 MEN'S SINGLES 2nd round: R Moore (Hagbourne) 21, A Mead (Wantage) 8. BERKSHIRE SINGLES 3rd round: J Heapy (Hagbourne) 21, G Evans (Didcot) 15; D Hall (Hagbourne) 21; J Stradling (Hagbourne) 12. BERKSHIRE TWO-WOOD CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
Oxfordshire slumped to a heavy 143-94 defeat against Sussex in the Home Counties League at Preston BC. Oxon, who had won their opening game against Surrey, were always trailing as Sussex dominated. The hosts won on five of the six rinks - with Martin
PUBLISHING firm Courier Newspapers has been rescued from administration. Newbury-based company, Biz Publishing, has bought the Abingdon company, securing the jobs of staff who have had their contracts transferred. A statement from the administrator
DRIVERS in Thames Valley paid out £5.4m in speeding tickets, new figures have shown. The amount works out at about £3 for every man, woman and child living in the region. About 95 per cent of the 135,230 fines issued were collected in 2005/06, compared
Troubled Morris Motors Athletics and Social Club has been saved from extinction. It won a last-minute reprieve from liquidation at London's High Court yesterday after developer Eddie Costello paid off debts totalling £80,000 including an outstanding
Patients treated at home will be ordered to visit their health centre for care if they refuse to stop smoking in front of community health staff. Although tobacco will be banned in the workplace from Sunday, the law will not be eligible for workers
BUSINESSES in Oxford are being urged to pay more tax in a bid to see their trading improve. Oliver O'Dell, the new chief executive of Oxford City Centre Management Company OX1, has launched a campaign to turn the city into an official Business Improvement
AFTER months of waiting, the line-up has been announced for a popular Oxfordshire rock festival - Truck. Over the past nine years, the annual two-day party, which takes place at Hill Farm, Steventon, near Abingdon, has acquired a reputation for attracting
Cyclists are continuing to jump red lights at a key Oxford city centre junction - despite a recent death and the threat of fines. In a second police spot check yesterday, plain-clothes officers caught nearly 80 cyclists riding through red lights at
A teenage tearaway has pledged to get his life back on the straight and narrow after becoming the first person in Didcot to be slapped with an Antisocial Behaviour Order (Asbo). James Budziszewski, 17, was handed the Asbo by police after terrorising
