Archive

  • FOOTBALL: North Leigh wary of Kidlington

    North Leigh chairman Pete King says the Sport Italia Hellenic League leaders will have to be at the top of their game when they take on Kidlington in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup semi-final at Court Place Farm on Tuesday. Although Paul Lee's outfit are

  • D-Day looms for post offices

    STAFF at under-threat post offices across Oxfordshire could be just a month away from knowing their fate. A six-week public consultation on the future of 22 branches listed for closure ended today and Post Office Ltd is expected to announce its decisions

  • Murder bid charges dropped

    A COUPLE accused of attempted murder had the case against them dropped today after prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence. Alan Wood, 46, and Tracey Hickman, 42, were charged after Mark Smith was found with multiple stab wounds in Oxford

  • Attempted murder charges dropped

    A couple accused of attempted murder had the case against them dropped today after prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence. Alan Wood, 46, and Tracey Hickman, 42, were charged after Mark Smith was found with multiple stab wounds in Oxford Road

  • Crash closes road

    A ROAD in south Oxfordshire was closed this evening after a crash involving a motorcycle and a car. The A321 Wargrave Road, Henley, was closed both ways due to accident near the A4130 White Hill, outside the Hogs boatyard. Emergency services are on

  • D-Day looms for post offices

    Postmasters at under-threat post offices across Oxfordshire could be just a month away from knowing their fate. A six-week public consultation on the future of 22 branches listed for closure ended today and Post Office Ltd is expected to announce its

  • Alex says Fairtrade is top banana

    ALEX James, former rock star now turned farmer, brought a cool message to a Fairtrade fair in Witney. The ex-bassist of Blur was the celebrity guest in the town's Langdale Hall, where hundreds of supporters and customers came to sample and buy products

  • Wind behind city turbine plans

    CITY council leaders have given experts the go-ahead to examine four possible sites for Oxford's first wind turbines. A detailed study will now examine whether the turbines, which generate electricity, could be built close to Hinksey Heights Golf Club

  • Violent crime on the rise

    VIOLENT crime in East Oxford has jumped by more than 11 per cent, according to the latest police figures. More than one violent crime took place every day between October and December last year - a total of 96 incidents compared with 86 over the same

  • Dozens prepare for beauty photocall

    MORE than 40 young women have now put their names forward to take part in this year's Miss Oxford competition. The contenders are being invited to a photo audition next Tuesday. The winner could become Miss England and compete in Miss World, following

  • Man charged with attempted murder

    A MAN was charged today with two counts of attempted murder in connection with an incident in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, in February. Assam Abdu Karrar, 42, of Celandine Place, Blackbird Leys, was remanded in custody. His case will be heard at Oxford

  • Flood-hit growers' rebate plea vetoed

    OXFORD City Council leaders have refused for the second time to waive a year's rent for allotment holders in West Oxford who have been flooded out. Last month, the Osney, St Thomas and New Botley Allotment Association asked the council for its first

  • Wind behind city turbine plans

    City council leaders have given experts the go-ahead to examine four possible sites for Oxford's first wind turbines. A detailed study will now examine whether the turbines, which generate electricity, could be built close to Hinksey Heights Golf Club

  • Mums pledge to save play area

    Mums and children gathered at an Oxford play area to protest against plans to turn it into cheap housing. Sermon Close, in Risinghurst, was one of 14 play areas recommended for closure by Oxford City Council last year. The council said it did not have

  • Dozens prepare for beauty photocall

    More than 40 young women have now put their names forward to take part in this year's Miss Oxford competition. This year, the Oxford Mail has joined forces with the organisers of Miss England to choose Miss Oxford Mail, 2008. The contenders are now

  • Tree policy 'is long overdue'

    Oxford's first comprehensive policy for dealing with the maintenance of tens of thousands of trees has been approved. The document - the first of its kind for the city - sets out under what circumstances tree felling work will take place, who will make

  • Flood-hit growers' rebate plea vetoed

    Oxford City Council leaders have refused for the second time to waive a year's rent for allotment holders in West Oxford who have been flooded out. Last month, the Osney, St Thomas and New Botley Allotment Association asked the council for its first

  • Attempted murder charge

    A 42-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder following the stabbing of two mental health workers. Assam Abdu Karrar, of Celandine Place in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, was remanded in a secure unit today under the Mental Health Act. He was

  • Aerobic marathon

    Staff from the Kidlington Sainsbury's store taking part in an aerobics marathon to raise money for Sport Relief. The volunteers, including store manager Vince Brimble, met at the Body Sense gym at the Oxford Hotel where they were put through their paces

  • Oooooooooo

    Joe Coyle, department manager at Witney Sainsbury's is photographed outside the front of the store being waxed by Helen Cutler. The event is watched by customers from left Millie Temple (aged 3) Shiela Temple (granny), Amy Beatty (mum) and Siobhan Beatty

  • Heroic performance

    Fancy dress rounders at the Iqra School in Oxford - Spiderman (Halima Hussain) and Batman (Shamima Yasmin).

  • Ear Ear

    Charlotte Jones, 10, and mum Debbie show off their ears at Carterton Leisure Centre.

  • Bunny hopping

    Fancy dress runners leaving from the Carterton Leisure Centre

  • 'Ere we go

    Runners set off from Carterton Leisure Centre

  • Merrily, merrily, merrily

    Staff at Sainsbury's in Kidlington were rowing an equivalent distance of across the Straits of Gibralter on a rowing machine in their store to raise money for Sport Relief. Pictured, right, is store manager Vince Brimble.

  • Bands prove they're a hit

    More than 1,200 young musicians hit all the right notes over the weekend in Oxford as they played their part in the world's largest youth music festival. The Barton estate came alive to the sound of music as youngsters from across the county and beyond

  • Warming up

    Runners warm up at Wyevale garden Centre for the Bicester sport relief run.

  • OxClean 2008

    The Friends of Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park OxClean held a clean-up on Saturday and Sunday. Apart from supporters of The Friends, local residents and members of CPRE helped out over the two days, totalling 16 people. They ranged in age from six to 80

  • Violent crime is on the rise

    Violent crime in East Oxford has jumped by more than 11 per cent, according to the latest police figures. More than one violent crime took place every day between October and December last year - a total of 96 incidents compared with 86 over the same

  • They're off

    They're off, runners get off to a flying start in the Bicester Sport Relief run.

  • OxClean 2008

    The Friends of Cutteslowe and Sunnymead Park OxClean held a clean-up on Saturday and Sunday. Apart from supporters of The Friends, local residents and members of CPRE helped out over the two days, totalling 16 people. They ranged in age from six to 80

  • Fairtrade is top banana, says Alex

    Alex James, former rock star now turned farmer, brought a cool message to a Fairtrade fair in Witney. The ex-bassist of Blur was the celebrity guest in the town's Langdale Hall, where hundreds of supporters and customers came to sample and buy products

  • Foals @ The Oxford Carling Academy

    Few gigs have been as eagerly anticipated as this homecoming show by Oxford's hottest new band. And few shows have so comprehensively lived up to expectation. Foals had put a vast amount of effort into planning their show at the Academy - their biggest

  • Householders feud over 5cm

    A row has erupted between a set of neighbours in Bicester over a fence boundary. Police were called at the weekend after the feud spilled over and fence panelling was destroyed. Each side has said the other was to blame. On Saturday. Chris and Mandy

  • Parenthood needn't stop you cycling

    There are a variety of ways you can carry your little nippers on your bike. The most common way is using a rear seat fitted on to the back of your bike. The quality of these can vary: When I originally bought mine for my oldest, I didn't have a choice

  • Business angel backs Oxonica

    MULTIMILLIONAIRE business angel Richard Farleigh is leading the battle to revive Oxonica, the Oxfordshire company which hit a crisis last year. Oxonica, based at Begbroke Science Park, made ten people redundant last May when it lost a £6.1m contract

  • Parking prices rise after five years

    Motorists in south Oxfordshire are bracing themselves for the first hike in parking charges in five years. South Oxfordshire District Council has raised its parking fees by 10p across the board. They will come into effect from April 1. For overstayers

  • Top comics star for Helen House

    Tickets for a star-studded comedy show in aid of Oxford's Helen and Douglas House hospice have sold out more than a month in advance. Childish Things 4, at the New Theatre in George Street on Sunday, April 20, will feature comedians Bill Bailey, Jimmy

  • Local share prices

    17/3/08 PM AEA Technology 68 BMW 2447 Electrocomponents 156.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 133 Oxford Biomedica 22.5 Oxford Catalyst 155 Oxford Instruments 189.5 REED 622 RM 205.75 RPS Group 313.75

  • Oxford must win last away game

    Oxford Hawks suffered a shattering 7-1 home defeat to high-flying Chichester in South League Premier Division 1. Chichester were sharper and more professional in every facet of the game and capitalised on Hawks' low confidence after two successive league

  • Rover asleep at the start

    Rover Oxford Ladies stay tenth in Women's National North Division of the Slazenger England League after losing 3-1 at Ben Rhydding. They looked somewhat sleepy in the first ten minutes of a wet, blustery cold day in Yorkshire. However, their game

  • Smyth and Beer both bag four

    Rover Oxford men gave themselves a good chance of avoiding the drop in South League Premier Division 2 with a remarkable 8-5 win over mid-table Winchester. Dan Smyth and Rich Beer both smashed four goals as Rover recorded back-to-back victories. Rover

  • Bobby the JRT

    This is Bobby, a two-and-a-half year old Jack Russell Terrier. He is an extremely active, sociable little dog who will need lots of both mental and physical stimulation in his new home. Since being in the centre, Bobby has shown great potential at agility

  • DARTS: Swan's first defeat

    Premier League champions Original Swan A suffered their first defeat of the season with a 5-4 reverse at Section 1's Shelley Arms C. Terry Wood gave Shelley a 1-0 lead with a fine win over Tony Leone. The Premier side hit back with wins from Jon Jukes

  • DARTS: Oxon down Kent

    Oxfordshire won 10-7 at Kent in the County Youth Championship to continue their excellent form. Oxon's under 18 boys picked up their fifth win in a row with Lewis Bower (24.44 avg), Dean Lockyer (23.86), Mark Burns (21.17), Kevin Smith (20.90) and Tom

  • RUGBY UNION: Henley hammered

    Henley Hawks' 59-12 defeat at Southend was their heaviest loss since being relegated to National 2. And it now all but consigns them to National 3 rugby next season - just a year after missing out on promotion by one point. The last time Henley conceded

  • Crash driver sped off

    A SPEEDING motorist crashed into another car leaving the driver injured but failed to stop. A silver Renault Clio was attempting a U-turn on a minor road running between Curbridge and Ducklington, near the junction with the A415 at about 3.15pm yesterday

  • City gets a clean sweep

    Hundreds of people in small groups across Oxford gave the city a spring clean over the weekend - and filled scores of black bags with rubbish. The OxClean drive by Oxford Civic Society saw young and old getting together to clear the city's litter hot

  • Crash driver failed to stop

    A speeding motorist crashed into another car leaving the driver injured but failed to stop. Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision near Witney yesterday. A silver Renault Clio was attempting a U-turn on a minor road running between Curbridge

  • Wonderful idea

    Wind turbines are a wonderful idea, beautifully propelled by nature and not likely to cause damage to anything, ever. Susan Thomas, Wind turbines would damage the countryside (Oxford Mail, March 11), would rather we left the old technologies in place

  • No daylight robbery

    I must protest strongly at your misleading front page headlines, Daylight robbery, Our penny-pinching Government alters tax laws to steal money you want to give to charity (Oxford Mail, March 11). In fact, as we now know from the Budget, the Chancellor

  • A measly £50 won't help us

    The Chancellor, in his wisdom, has decided to increase the heating allowance for people over 60 by £50 and for people over 80 by £100 for this year only. He is just trying to pull the wool over people's eyes and it will not wash. The truth of how

  • Snowboarding amputee trials prototype leg

    An amputee from Oxford is set to trial a prototype artificial leg at a world-renowned snowboarding event in America. Carl Murphy's state-of-the-art prosthetic limb has never before been used on snow, but the winter sports fan is confident it can do

  • Woman robbed by four men

    A woman was robbed by four men while walking home alone after a night out. Police are appealing for witnesses to the robbery which took place in Witney early on Saturday morning. A 19-year-old woman was walking home along Woodstock Road when she was

  • Woman, 19, robbed in Witney

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a 19-year-old woman was robbed after a night out in Witney. The teenager was walking home along Woodstock Road at about 2am on Saturday, after a night out in Witney, when she was approached by four men. They

  • Update: Lorry crash causes A40 jams

    AN overturned lorry on the A40 near Wheatley which spilled 24 tonnes of fruit caused large tailbacks for motorists. Ambulance crews were called to the scene between Wheatley and Oxford at 10.35am today. No one was injured in the incident. Traffic

  • Congregation coming home

    A nomadic congregation is just weeks away from returning to its church home after being on the move for six months. Members of Kidlington Baptist Church have been left without a base since September after builders began a £690,000 revamp of their High

  • Pub drugs check leads to arrests

    TWO people were arrested after police carried out drugs tests on drinkers at an Oxford pub. The police drugs itemiser was used outside The Blackbird Pub in Blackbird Leys. About 80 drinkers passed through the itemiser - which takes swabs from people's

  • Landlord fined £6,000

    A landlord has been fined £6,000 after admitting renting out a property in Oxford without registering it as a shared house. Nadeem Aftab, who lives in London, admitted to renting out the property in Nuffield Road, Oxford, without a licence and to breaching

  • Landlord fined £6,000

    A LANDLORD has been fined £6,000 after admitting renting out a property in Oxford without registering it as a shared house. Nadeem Aftab, who lives in London, admitted renting out the property in Nuffield Road, Oxford, without a licence and to breaching

  • OxClean 2008

    Members of Cripley Meadow Allotment Association pictured after two hours in the rain on Sunday morning. They collected 26 bags of rubbish from Port Meadow/Cripley Meadow Car Parks and waste ground by the railway.

  • Lorry crashes on A40

    An overturned lorry on the A40 has caused large tailbacks for motorists. Ambulance crews were called to the scene between Wheatley and Oxford at 10.35am this morning. No one was injured in the incident.

  • Local share prices

    17/03/2008 AEA Technology 68.5 BMW 2452 Electrocomponents 160.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 134 Oxford Biomedica 22.25 Oxford Catalyst 155 Oxford Instruments 193.25 REED 618.25 RM 206.5 RPS Group 304

  • Two arrested after drugs checks

    Two people were arrested after police carried out drugs tests on drinkers at an Oxford pub on Friday. The police drugs itemiser was used outside The Blackbird Pub in Blackbird Leys. Around 80 drinkers passed through the itemiser - which takes swabs

  • Hundreds join OxClean spring clean

    HUNDREDS of people in small groups all across Oxford gave the city a spring clean over the weekend - and filled scores of bags with rubbish. The OxClean drive by Oxford Civic Society, supported by The Oxford Times, saw young and old getting together

  • OxClean 2008

    Rev Willy Pryor and his wife Elizabeth and a group of pupils from Summer Fields School group called the Wombles clean up Summertown car park

  • Thousands back post office campaign

    SEVENTEEN thousand people across Oxfordshire have spoken with one voice and told the Government they do not want their post offices to close. The strength of opposition to controversial plans to shut branches across the county was evident as we delivered

  • Hogs found haven

    A PAIR of pigs who gobbled up all the vegetables in a Wantage allotment have had their bacon saved. A team of four RSPCA inspectors and three members of Oxfordshire County Council's trading standards team rounded up the porkers after enticing them into

  • OxClean 2008

    Pickers in Old Marston collected nearly 50 bags of rubbish

  • OxClean 2008

    Pickers in Old Marston collected nearly 50 bags of rubbish

  • OxClean 2008

    The results are there for all to see in Risinghurst

  • OxClean 2008

    Oxford Civic Society and City Works celebrate a successful weekend

  • OxClean 2008

    Some of the scrap metal collected during the weekend

  • Rain leads to flood alerts

    FLOOD alerts have been issued for several rivers in Oxfordshire after heavy rainfall led to rising water levels across the county. About 20mm of rain fell on Saturday night prompting the Environment Agency to issue lower-risk "floodwatch" warnings

  • Patto's mixed emotions

    Boss Darren Patterson paid tribute to the character of his players for bouncing back from Burton with the win they needed on Saturday. But he admitted also being "agitated" by the inadequacies in front of goal, where they passed up some great opportunities

  • Rain prompts flood alerts

    Flood alerts have been issued for several rivers in Oxfordshire after heavy rainfall led to rising water levels across the county. About 20mm of rain fell on Saturday night prompting the Environment Agency to issue lower-risk "floodwatch" warnings for

  • District backs Post office campaigns

    SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council is urging Post Office Ltd to keep open the threatened post offices at Crowmarsh and Stanton St John. The council has written officially asking for the closure threat to be lifted. Council leader Ann Ducker said they

  • You can't ignore our protests

    The closure of post offices hits at the very fabric of our society. We may be less reliant on them than previous generations. We can now buy our postage stamps at supermarkets, filling stations and numerous other places. Many people receiving pensions

  • District to raise parking charges

    MOTORISTS in south Oxfordshire are bracing themselves for the first rise in parking charges in five years. The district council is to raise its parking fees by 10p across the board with effect from April 1. And for those outstaying their welcome,

  • Council considers beauty-spot turbine plan

    PLANS to build giant wind turbines at beauty spots in Oxford are expected to take a step forward today. Senior councillors are being asked to give the go-ahead to a serious study into whether giant wind turbines could be built on land close to Hinksey

  • Turbines set for step forward

    Plans to build giant wind turbines around Oxford were due to take a step forward today. Senior councillors were expected to give the go-ahead for a detailed study into whether the turbines, to generate electricity, could be put up close to Hinksey Heights

  • Hundreds take part in Sport Relief

    HUNDREDS of people across Oxfordshire went the extra mile for charity over the weekend as they joined in the fun for Sport Relief. Although most chose to smash through the pain barrier by running one, three or six miles for the BBC charity event, others

  • U's players driven around the bend!

    Oxford United will launch an investigation into why their team bus arrived so late at Stafford. Despite leaving in plenty of time, at 11am from Oxford, it took more than three hours to get to the Marston Road ground. There was a small hold-up en route

  • Players pay tribute to dead teammate

    Players stood in silence at the beginning of the Enstone v Horspath football match on Saturday in memory of Ryan Bott. Mr Bott, 20, was one of seven people killed in a two-car crash on the Fosse Way between Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the Wold on March

  • Polar talk

    AN ILLUSTRATED talk on Sir Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated trans-Antarctic expedition will be given at Thame Museum, in Lower High Street, at 7.30pm, on Thursday, March 20, by Thame Players' chairman, Tony Long. Tickets, costing £3.50, are available

  • Beery dates

    THE Woodman pub, North Leigh, is holding its Easter Beer Festival this year from Friday, March 21, to Monday, March 24, with a West Country theme, including real ales and a selection of ciders. The pub is also celebrating this week's Community Pub

  • Sign up for dragon race

    DUST off your paddles and sign up for this year's Dragon Boat Race. The Rotary Club of Abingdon will hold the annual event on the south bank of the River Thames, near to Abingdon Lock, on Sunday, May 11. A dragon boat is similar to a long canoe

  • Reserve hopes for boom in bitterns

    A NATURE reserve is hoping to attract greater numbers of two of Britain's rarest bird species after landing a £150,000 grant. The RSPB's Otmoor Reserve in Beckley, near Oxford, is aiming to increase the number of bitterns and snipe that come to the

  • Post Office petitions taken to Downing Street

    An incredible 17,000 people across Oxfordshire have spoken with one voice and told the Government they do not want their post offices to close. The strength of opposition to controversial plans to shut branches across the county was evident as the Oxford