Archive

  • United axe five more players

    Darren Patterson has wielded the axe with five players being told they will not be offered a deal by Oxford United next season. Strikers Craig McAllister and Justin Richards, and midfielders Jamie Hand, Carl Pettefer and Danny Rose, were all informed

  • Club must clean up its act

    ONE of Oxford's biggest nightclubs has been told to change its door entry policies and stop the use of glass bottles after a review of its licence. The Bridge, in Hythe Bridge Street, was today ordered to take action by Oxford City Council's licensing

  • Club must clean up its act

    One of Oxford's biggest nightclubs has been forced to change its door entry policies and stop the use of glass bottles after a review of its licence. The Bridge, in Hythe Bridge Street, was today ordered to take action by Oxford City Council's licensing

  • Social club barred over licence fears

    The bar at East Oxford Community Centre is facing an uncertain future for the second time in just over a year. East Oxford Community Association, which runs the centre, on the corner of Cowley Road and Princes Street, has evicted the East Oxford Social

  • City's finest at Glastonbury

    Three Oxford bands are due to appear at this year's Glastonbury festival, it has been announced. Organisers of the event, which takes place at Worthy Farm, Pilton, in Somerset, from Friday to Sunday, June 27 to 29, unveiled the line-up tonight. Oxford

  • SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: Marlborough cup marvels

    Marlborough (Woodstock) staged an amazing comeback to beat Henley College 4-3 in a thrilling Oxfordshire Under 19 Cup final at Oxford City. Trailing 3-0, Marlborough refused to lie down and roared back to claim an unlikely victory. Henley were quickly

  • FOOTBALL: North Kidlington are United champs

    North Kidlington's first venture into Oxford United's Under 9 five-a-side tournament ended in glory with a 2-1 victory over Cholsey in the final at the Kassam Stadium. Playing before Oxford United's 1-0 win over Rushden & Diamonds, Cholsey led through

  • SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: Magical Murphy stars in goal fest

    Captain James Murphy hit a five-timer as Oxfordshire Under 14s demolished Dorset 11-0 in the Reed Trophy at Milton United. Oli Taylor, Ben Whitehead and Jordan Obita bagged a brace apiece as Oxon dominated the game with their superior technical ability

  • A34 crash leads to delays

    THE northbound carriageway of the A34 was shut for 20 minutes this evening after a van towing a trailer overturned. The carriageway was shut at 4.25pm between the A4285 and the A4130 near West Ilsley to allow the wreckage to be recovered. A spokesman

  • Shopkeeper fights off robber

    A SHOPKEEPER fought off an armed robber with a stool after being threatened at knifepoint today. The robber entered the A and Y Stores, on the corner of Broad Street and Gatteridge Street, Banbury, at about 10.15am and threatened the shopkeeper with

  • A34 crash prompts rush hour delays

    THE A34 was shut for 20 minutes this evening after a van towing a trailer overturned. The northbound carriageway was shut at 4.25pm between the A4285 and the A4130 near West Ilsley to allow the wreckage to be recovered. A spokesman for the Highways

  • Post office axe days away

    Under-threat post offices across the county could be fewer than seven days away from learning their fate. Last night, Post Office Ltd said it expected to make an announcement shortly and postmasters said they believed Tuesday, May 6, would be decision

  • Record total caught speeding in 30mph zones

    Traffic officers have caught a record-breaking 420 drivers speeding in 30mph zones. The county clampdown was part of a European Road Policing Network campaign, involving 16 countries. Pc Mark Pilling, above, of Abingdon roads policing, joined other

  • Eymsham roar to title glory

    Eynsham Youth clinched the Giles Sports Witney Youth Under 15 B League title in style by crushing Deddington Colts 6-1 in their penultimate game of the season. Tom McCudden and Jack Davies bagged doubles, with Lewis Ashton and Will Cook wrapping up

  • FOOTBALL: Whiting seals Yellows' joy

    Oxford Yellows made it second time lucky at Court Place Farm with a 3-1 victory over Mansfield Road in the Presidents Cup final. Yellows had lost to Star Wanderers on penalties in the Sam Waters Cup the previous week, but came out on top in the sunshine

  • FOOTBALL: Probe after four sent off

    An inquiry will be held into the Marston's Oxford Sunday League Division 1 clash between leaders Cricketers and Chalgrove. Chalgrove won the match 3-0, but Cricketers had four men sent off. League press liaison officer Geoff Bower said: "On-the-field

  • Shopkeeper fights off robber

    A shopkeeper fought off an armed robber with a stool after being threatened at knifepoint today. The robber entered the A and Y Stores, on the corner of Broad Street and Gatteridge Street, in Banbury, at about 10.15am and threatened the shopkeeper with

  • FOOTBALL: Hail the comeback kings!

    Hailey twice came from behind to land the biggest cup success in their history with a 4-2 triumph over Oxfordshire Senior League outfit Garsington in the final of the Oxfordshire Charity Cup on Saturday. The Witney & District FA outfit, who last year

  • FOOTBALL: Cox spot on again

    Dan Cox again saved a penalty as Star Wanderers won 4-2 at Riverside in the Premier Division of the Marston's Oxford Sunday League. Cox stopped three spot kicks in their Sam Waters Cup victory the previous week and preserved their 1-0 lead this time

  • FOOTBALL: Minster stay in hunt

    Braces from Brad Bryant and Craig Williams kept Minster Lovell's Witney & District FA Division 1 title hopes alive with a 4-1 victory over FC Mills. Rob Debanks bagged Mills's goal, but it was not enough to deny Minster, who now face a title-decider

  • FOOTBALL: No let up for Saxton

    Division 1 champions Saxton Rovers didn't let up as they battled to a 2-0 win at Dorchester United in the Autotype UTV League. Garry Hartley and sub Wayne Harbert scored the goals, while United can still finish third. Cross Keys preserved their Division

  • FOOTBALL: Crowmarsh claim second trophy

    Division 2 champions Crowmarsh Gifford claimed their second trophy after landing the North Berks League's War Memorial Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Childrey United at Wantage Town, writes Andy Wells. After a goalless first half, Chris Allum

  • Campus is 12 months ahead of schedule

    The new £30.5m college campus in Witney could be completed one year before it was due to be finished. If all goes to plan, demolition of the old buildings and complete redevelopment will be achieved by the summer of 2010 instead of 2011. Lead construction

  • FOOTBALL: Kings hail John

    Goalkeeper Alex John was the shoot-out star as Kings Arms Wheatley pipped Kidlington Royals 3-1 on penalties to lift the Alan Alder Trophy. John's two spot kick saves proved crucial after the teams finished 3-3 in normal time. As is traditional, the

  • Hope on muscular dystrophy

    A POTENTIAL treatment for the fatal genetic disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy is to be tested by an Oxfordshire biotech company. Summit, based at Milton Park, near Abingdon, says its drug has been shown to reduce muscle fatigue during exercise, when

  • Today's local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 68.75 BMW 2780 Electrocomponents 186.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 128 Oxford Biomedica 26 Oxford Catalyst 168.5 Oxford Instruments 208.75 Reed Elsevier 636.25 RM 208.75 RPS Group 309.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Labour revolt over ID cards

    Campaigners fighting the Government's plans for ID cards are claiming a victory after four Labour candidates seeking election to Oxford City Council on Thursday opposed the scheme. And today, city councillor and Lord Mayor John Tanner, who is seeking

  • U's boss in Blenheim run plea

    Oxford United are urging fans to tackle a run around Blenheim Palace and score thousands of pounds for charity in the process. The Hearts First Blenheim 10km Bolt takes place on Sunday, May 11, in aid of the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Manager

  • A new 3rd class service

    I thought your readers would be interested to know that the Royal Mail has added another delivery service to its rounds called 'third class service'. This means that mail can be delivered up to 6pm at night! Yes, it really is true - I have just had

  • Holes in the road

    Does it annoy you to see more holes being dug in our roads, pavements and verges, only for the work to stop, without explanation to residents or road users, who are inconvenienced? Then it's time for retaliation. Before utility or other companies

  • Not compulsory

    Chrissie Lake (Oxford Mail, April 18) seems very put out at qualifying for and using her bus pass! They are not compulsory - so if she is so upset by it, why does she have one or why does she use it? True, they are open to abuse (people going from

  • What's the plan for covered market

    I am concerned about the plans to increase the rents of those who have stalls in the Oxford Covered Market by as much as 100 per cent or more. To make such a move is very unwise, since it could have a very dramatic and unfortunate sudden effect on this

  • Come clean on market plans

    The Covered Market has been a primary feature in Oxford civic life for many years. Now there is serious unrest in the market since the council is putting up the traders' rents by extortionate rates and giving little or no service to the tenants. Based

  • Teenagers plan new youth centre

    Teenagers on Oxford's Donnington estate are helping put together designs for a new youth space. Donnington Doorstep Family Centre in Townsend Square, East Oxford, is in the middle of a £240,000 project to build an area for older children. And organisers

  • Armed robber jailed

    A 32-year-old armed robber who threatened a women with a knife has been jailed for three-and-a-half years. James Scott, of no fixed address, appeared at Oxford Crown Court accused of a robbery on February 15 at The Chocolate Box in North Street, Thame

  • Man Utd to prove too good

    My money's on a Man Utd win over Barcelona tonight - and it's time that Ronaldo and Rooney were kept out of the headlines. It's the type of game that Paul Scholes thrives in, so don't be surprised if it is he, or even Michael Carrick that produce the

  • Man jailed for knife raid

    A MAN has been sentenced to three-and-a- half years' jail for a knifepoint robbery in a shop in Thame. James Scott, 32, of no fixed abode, appeared at Oxford Crown Court for sentencing in relation to a robbery that happened on February 15 inside The

  • Regal revived as £1m nightspot

    IT started life as a cinema in the 1930s and was used as a bingo hall before being left to sit empty for almost four years. But after 18 months - and an investment of £1m - a project to restore The Regal in Cowley Road to its former glory is finally

  • Seven players fail to get new deal

    Darren Patterson has announced his retained list at Oxford United Craig McAllister, Justin Richards, Jamie Hand, Carl Pettefer and Danny Rose have all been told they will not be offered a deal with The U's next season, as have Rob Duffy and Michael

  • School to go for foundation status

    Proposals to turn Oxford Community School into the city's first foundation school have been given the go ahead. Following a six-week consultation period, governors have decided to push forward with the transformation in the autumn. Chairman of governors

  • Small traders take on chains

    Small shops in Witney are forming their own network to fight the threat posed by multinational chainstores. Ten independent businesses in the town have already agreed to join the Witney Independent Retailers' Association. The catalyst for the shopkeepers

  • Post office bid submitted

    Wallingford will be a step nearer getting a permanent post office if a plan before South Oxfordshire District Council is accepted. KP Stationers in Market Place have submitted a planning application to demolish part of the existing retail and residential

  • Biggin' it up

    It started life as a cinema in the 1930s and was used as a bingo hall before being left to sit empty for nearly four years. But after 18 months - and an investment of £1m - a project to restore The Regal in Cowley Road to its former glory is finally

  • Yachtsman embarks on last leg of voyage

    Yachtsman Adrian Flanagan embarks on the final leg of his round-the-world journey on Thursday, and - hopefully - into the record books. Mr Flanagan, 47, father of Benjamin, nine, and Gabrielle, six, will set off on the 1,600-mile leg from Norway to

  • Police stop 420 speeding drivers

    TRAFFIC police stopped 420 drivers in Oxfordshire who were speeding in 30mph zones. As part of a Europe-wide Safety Week, a speed campaign ran across the Thames Valley, from Monday, April 21, until Sunday. Checks were carried out at a number of locations

  • Police stop 430 speeding drivers

    Traffic police stopped 430 drivers in Oxfordshire who were speeding in 30mph zones. As part of a Europe-wide Safety Week, a speed campaign ran across the Thames Valley, from Monday, April 21 until Sunday, April 27. Checks were carried out at a number

  • Pensioner tricked by distraction burglars

    Two thieves tricked their way into the home of a 77-year-old. Two men targeted the property in Priory Road at 3.30pm on Tuesday, April 22, telling the woman they were from the water company and needed to check her taps. She let them in but became

  • Going Roamin'

    Latin lovers in Oxford will get the chance to learn the language - in a park. Dr Lorna Robinson, who teaches ancient languages in several of Oxford's state schools, has set up special groups to teach adults following interest from pupil's parents.

  • Man injured in Queen Street fall

    BUSES were held up in the city centre for about half an hour last night after a man sustained a head injury after a fall in Queen Street. The incident happened at about 5.50pm yesterday with the man taken to John Radcliffe Hospital by ambulance.

  • Burglars target 77-year-old

    POLICE today appealed for witnesses after a failed distraction burglary at the home of a 77-year-old woman in Oxford. At 3.30pm on Tuesday, April 22, two men, believed to be local, called at a property in Priory Road, Littlemore, and told the woman resident

  • Waste Not Want Not

    Stale bread, soggy cucumbers and sprouting potatoes may not sound like the ideal ingredients for a culinary masterpiece, but throw them away and you're missing a trick, and a treat, say food experts. A third of the food we buy ends up in the bin,

  • Lib Dem leader visits school

    PUPILS from Oxford Community School got the chance to quiz Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg yesterday on a host of topics including multi culturalism, voter apathy and last week's teachers' strike. About 60 pupils questioned Mr Clegg during the

  • Armed police tackle 'chainsaw' man

    A PARTYGOER dressed as a chainsaw-wielding murderer believes police had a "sense of humour failure" after the force scrambled a helicopter and armed police to tackle him. Kevin Oakes, of Willow Drive, Bicester, donned a costume to mimic the character

  • Armed reponse to fancy dress

    A party goer dressed as a chainsaw- wielding murderer believes police had a "sense of humour failure" after the force scrambled a helicopter and armed cops to collar him. Kevin Oakes, of Willow Drive, Bicester, donned a costume to mimic the character

  • Murder denied

    A 53-year-old man yesterday denied murdering a man who was found dead on a boat. James Crain, of Springfield Avenue, Banbury, is accused of killing Maurice Batts, 64, who was found dead on his boat on the Oxford Canal at Southam Road, Banbury, last

  • New link off to a good start

    OXFORDSHIRE'S newest railway service got off to a perfect start yesterday with the 8am Wrexham & Shropshire departure from Banbury to Wrexham leaving on time. The first arrival from north-east Wales, however, due into Banbury en route to London Marylebone

  • Driver died from natural causes

    A DRIVER who died after crashing his car into a hedge south of Oxford died from natural causes. A spokesman for Oxford coroner's office confirmed yesterday that the 61-year-old man died from natural causes, following the accident on Friday at 7am, on

  • Easter comes a bit later

    HUNDREDS of Russian Orthodox Christians gathered at an Oxford church to celebrate the Orthodox Easter - a month after protestant and Roman Catholic congregations marked the event. Members of the Russian Orthodox community held the service at the Roman

  • Raw sewage flows into brook

    RAW sewage overflowed out of a blocked drain yesterday and straight into a brook. Thames Water said the drain next to Boundary Brook, in Mileway Gardens, Headington, became blocked on Friday and again yesterday. An Environment Agency officer was

  • Fake passport leads to jail

    A 26-year-old man was jailed for a year yesterday after admitting trying to use a fake passport. Oxford Crown Court heard Maksim Khitrushka tried to use the passport to open a bank account at an HSBC branch in Oxford earlier this month. Jailing Khitrushka

  • Crash victim was soldier

    A SOLDIER who died when the car he was in overturned on the A34 has been named. David Liddon, 20, died when the black Vauxhall Corsa flipped on the southbound carriageway, near Drayton, at 2.30am on Saturday. A spokesman for Oxford coroner's office

  • Brothel keeper sent to jail

    A FORMER prostitute who ran brothels which earned more than £1m was yesterday jailed for 12 months. Annabel Wise, of Church Road, Milton-under-Wychwood, ran a brothel at Middle Way, Summertown, Oxford, for almost four years in an operation a judge

  • House prices buck UK trend

    HOUSE prices in Oxfordshire rose last month as the county continues to buck the national slowdown. Official figures released by the Land Registry for March show the average price of a property in the county went up by 0.5 per cent to £254,590. Oxfordshire

  • Rail link makes perfect start

    Oxfordshire's newest railway service got off to a perfect start yesterday with the 8am Wrexham & Shropshire departure from Banbury to Wrexham leaving on time. The first arrival from north-east Wales, however, due into Banbury en route to London Marylebone

  • Merry - we let the fans down

    Nick Merry has felt the pain of a season of under- achievement at Oxford United more than most. He had dearly hoped that he and his good friend Jim Smith would get the club back into the Football League at the second attempt after going so close the

  • FOOTBALL: Stand up and be counted!

    Oxford City player-boss Justin Merritt says his side must stand up and be counted as they look to reach the Division 1 South & West play-off final at the expense of Didcot Town in tonight's eagerly-awaited derby showdown. The pair go head-to-head at

  • DARTS: Oxon in top flight for first time

    Oxfordshire made the top flight of Inter-Counties Championship darts for the first time despite losing their final match away to Staffordshire. o The visitors went down to a 24-15, despite a strong showing from their two ladies' teams, but they just

  • Wise use of technology

    BANBURY'S Frank Wise School has become the first special school in Oxfordshire to be awarded the ICT Mark for excellence in computer technology. The award was granted by the British Education Communications and Technology Agency (Becta), the Government-funded

  • Schools face exam 'summit'

    FOUR struggling schools in Oxfordshire are under the spotlight after the Government called a Whitehall summit to tackle poor GCSE results. Peers School, Oxford Community School and St Gregory the Great VA Catholic School, in Oxford, and Banbury School

  • Quake thanks

    A KASHMIRI MP visited Banbury to thank residents for their help and support following the 2005 Asian earthquake. Chaudary Muhammad Rashid,a member of the Kashmir Legislative Assembly, who was a guest of Banbury councillor Alyas Ahmed, said the town

  • Our house prices buck UK trend

    House prices in Oxfordshire rose last month as the county continues to buck the national slowdown. Official figures released by the Land Registry for March show the average price of a property in the county went up by 0.5 per cent to £254,590. Oxfordshire

  • Brothel madam jailed for year

    A former prostitute who ran brothels which earned more than £1m was yesterday jailed for 12 months. Annabel Wise, of Church Road, Milton-under- Wychwood, ran a brothel at Middle Way, Summertown, Oxford, for almost four years in an operation a judge

  • Bratt set for Spanish debut

    BRITISH single-seater driver Will Bratt is set to embark on the toughest challenge of his motor racing career this weekend, when he makes his international race debut during the opening round of the 2008 FIAT Spanish Formula 3 Championship. Driving

  • Crows aid intelligence research

    FORGET Mensa tests, one Oxford scientist is looking to crows to get an insight into the nature of human intelligence. Jo Wimpenny, a zoologist from Oxford University, will be looking at how animal behaviour can inform research into human intelligence

  • Inspirational young people honoured

    WHEN 16-year-old Daisy Belsham almost lost her mother, she thought nothing of stepping into her shoes to care for her younger siblings. The student from Faringdon cared tirelessly for her brother Kenny, seven, and sister Alice, eight, while her mother

  • Keeping busy is key to fitness

    A KIDLINGTON grandfather has revealed the secret of his youthful appearance - in just 31,092 easy steps! According to colleagues at the East Oxford Health Centre, in Manzil Way, site supervisor Vic Middleton is forever on the go. So, when they challenged

  • Topsy gives 15 years of service

    TOPSY the skewbald mare proudly showed off her latest prize - a plaque and rosette recognising her 15 years of loyal service to disabled riders. Topsy joined the New Yatt Group of the Riding for the Disabled Association (NYRDA), in North Leigh, near