Nearly all three-year-olds in Oxfordshire now attend a nursery, says Oxfordshire County Council. Sixty-one per cent go to private establishments, and the council plans to increase the percentage in its places in primary schools and nurseries, from 35
Hopes are rising that the Oxford postal strike will be over by tonight. While a mass meeting at Cowley Workers Social Club rejected the latest move for a return to work yesterday, there is just one sticking point now being negotiated by national union
Abingdon is at "war" for the next six months. An exhibition called Thames at War opens on Saturday at the town museum in the Old County Hall and runs until October. It focuses on the impact of the Second World War on the Abingdon area. On display are
A respected musician from Wheatley, near Oxford, has died. Don Lewis, of Farm Close Road, Wheatley, died last month aged 84. He was born and grew up in Southampton, and came to Oxford in 1940 to work in the Pressed Steel Company, in Cowley. As a boy he
A GP wants to be removed from the medical register to avoid a lengthy disciplinary hearing surrounding the death of a five year old. The GMC is considering whether Dr David Jarman, a former partner at Wallingford Medical Practice, provided inadequate
Car parking charges in Wallingford should be waived on 'slack' days to tempt people into the town, say councillors. There should be no free time on extremely busy days to ease the pressure on spaces, they also think. The idea -- from town council member
Berinsfield featherweight Michael Rendell turned in a polished and precise display to seal victory over Stevenage rival Chris Howes in their ABA Home Counties Junior Championship semi-final encounter at Reading. In this Class 5 (under 17) clash, Rendell
Frilford Heath made a successful start to the defence of their Shaw & Co Oxfordshire Foursomes League title with a hard-earned 2-1 victory at Studley Wood. The reigning Section 1 champions clinched victory when their third pair of Ashley Walton and
Morrells of Oxford Sunday League: Oxford Supporters rattled in six goals, but still finished up on the losing side as the Division 2 basement boys were thrashed 16-6 by ten-man Cold Arbour. Amin Jamil led the way against Oxford, who have yet to record
Abingdon C won their final two matches of the season to finish champions of Division 2. They beat Didcot Power Station C 8-2, before a maximum from Ricki Whiteaway helped them to a 7-3 victory over clubmates Abingdon D 7-3. Abingdon D, however, remain
Oxford Silver Machine asset Ben Barker continued his remarkable progress with a stunning debut at Premier League level at Newport on Sunday. The diminutive Barker, who celebrated his 16th birthday last month, came in as a Conference League guest for the
A group of Russian dancers have arrived in Oxford to prepare for a series of performances over the next two weeks. The 20-strong folk ensemble Yarmarka from the Russian city of Perm, deep in the Ural mountains, are here as part of Oxford City Council's
Town councillors want to see a run-down industrial estate on the eastern approach to Didcot redeveloped with new units. Timber and builders' merchants Travis Perkins has set the trend with a new retail centre at the entrance to Rich's Sidings. But next-door
Three teenage girls who assaulted a man after one of them attacked and attempted to rob his girlfriend have escaped jail sentences. They had previously admitted assault with intent to resist apprehension, Oxford Crown Court heard on April 14. Melanie
Owners of a missing black cat were overjoyed when their pet returned home -- but horrified to see a gin trap attached to his paw. Sooty, pictured with the trap, was missing for five days before returning home to Patrick and Mary Greene, of Long Wittenham
A website has been launched dedicated to people's gripes with Thames Valley Police's service. The website -- www.thamesvalleypolicesucks.co.uk -- was launched by Phil Brown, 54, owner of a car and van-hire firm, who claims the force did not do enough
Animated character Wallace will be leaving Gromit at home when he visits children being treated at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, on April 16. Runner Bernie Hollywood will stop in Oxford in a human-sized Wallace suit during a practice run for Sunday's
Oxford Silver Machine promoter Nigel Wagstaff plans to study video evidence of the controversial eighth heat in Oxford Silver Machine's KO Cup defeat by Arena Essex last week. Both Oxford riders were excluded in separate incidents, with Arena completing
It was with great sadness that I read your front page article about the young lady who fears for her life if she can't get help (Oxford Mail, April 1). Having just recovered from four months of depression (I get it every year, and had a nervous breakdown
I have witnessed one of the daftest pieces of officialdom yet. As I walked along Banbury Road, Oxford, a parking attendant had just ticketed two cars parked outside the Summertown shops. Nothing unusual, except there were only about five cars in the parking
Less than £3 would be needed from everyone in Oxfordshire to help complete the state-of the-art Oxford Children's Hospital. The £20m hospital, being built at the John Radcliffe site in Headington, is due to open its doors in December 2006, bringing the
Abingdon is at "war" for the next six months. An exhibition called Thames at War opens on Saturday at the town museum in the Old County Hall and runs until October. It focuses on the impact of the Second World War on the Abingdon area. On display are
Police officers hooked on drugs or alcohol will be given help to overcome their problems, rather than automatically facing the sack. Where Thames Valley officers are suspected of taking drugs they can be challenged to take a test. However, there is no
Financial adviser Emma Lilley-Hopkins is teaming up with an Indian restaurant to help her get to Peru and raise money for charity. She is hoping all the tables at Witney's Shaan restaurant in Corn Street will be booked on the night of May 16, at £20 a
Autotype UTV League: Michael Beale was again in brilliant form, smashing a hat-trick as Saxton Rovers twice battled back to beat OUP Wanderers 4-2 in the Alan Alder Memorial Trophy. Last week, he netted a double in their defeat by Kidlington in the Devenney
An elderly woman had her handbag and about £400 cash snatched while shopping in a Bicester super- market. The 80-year-old was looking at newspapers in Tesco, Sheep Street, at about 3.15pm on April 10 when a woman approached her and starting talking to
One of England's last First World War veterans died at his Kings Sutton, near Banbury, home on April 9. Arthur Halestrap, who lived in Kensington Close, was 105 and had served his country in both world wars. He was born in Southampton on September 8,
Banbury's hospital radio station will be broadcasting to the wider community on April 24 as part of its 40th birthday celebrations. Usually, only those at the Horton can tune into the programmes. But for one day only, Radio Horton will have an FM frequency
American-style yellow buses to transport Oxford schoolchildren are being suggested by Conservatives to cut congestion in the city. Theresa May MP, the party's shadow secretary of state for environment and transport, joined Oxfordshire Tories on April
A serviceman's name has been added to Abingdon's war memorial -- the first to be inscribed since the end of the Second World War. Rifleman Michael Edward Bagshaw, who served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Green Jackets, was killed in a terrorist attack
Two brothers have denied a vicious attack in which a man is alleged to have been stabbed, Oxford Crown Court heard. Carl and James Hatch, both of Leopold Street, Oxford, had previously denied an allegation of an affray. Oliver Dunkin, prosecuting, told
Matt Bound says Oxford United's players know they are under-perform-ing and need to turn things round immediately. The U's are on a dismal run which has seen them pick up just one win from their last 12 matches, and to drop away tamely from the automatic
People in the Abingdon area could be tuning into their own local radio station next year. Trial broadcasts are expected to be held in the summer and Christmas by UK Local Radio Ltd. No other potential bidders have yet come forward. Communications industry
