Oxford Mail

On this day:

• Aldi plans a Didcot store

  PLANS for an Aldi supermarket creating 10 full-time and 20 part-time jobs, have been welcomed by civic leaders in Didcot. read more

• Council approves building 2,500 homes in Grove

  PERMISSION has tonight been granted for a plan to build 2,500 homes in Grove, after more than a decade of discussion. read more

• RUGBY UNION: Oxford name 13 Blues for Varsity Match

  Oxford University have named a record 13 Blues in their starting line-up as they seek a fourth successive victory in the Varsity Match at Twickenham next Thursday (2pm). read more

• Shoppers can get a Christmas prize

  People who shop at independent stores in the run-up to Christmas could win a prize. read more

• Burglars target stable

  BURGLARS forced their way into a stable and two sheds at Blewbury. read more

• Women bishops now a reality not a pipe dream

  The Church of England witnessed a change of heart last month when the General Synod debated legislation to allow women to be consecrated as Bishops. With the closest indication yet that there could be a change in the law in 2014, Debbie Waite spoke to some of the county’s female clergy about life in a man’s world read more

• Get set for a feast of free festive films thanks to the Oxford Mail

  Oxford has thrown its support behind the latest Oxford Mail senior citizens’ film festival starting on Monday, December 16. read more

• Tennis courts resurfacing agreed ‘in principle’

  WITNEY town councillors have voted “in principle” to finally resurface the four tennis courts at West Witney Sports Ground. read more

• Motorcyclist critically injured on A40

  A 24-year-old motorcyclist is critically ill in hospital after a crash with a van on the A40 between Witney and Oxford. read more

• Rally raises a record £31,800 for charity

  This year’s Woodcote Rally raised a record £31,800 for local charities, including Wallingford Army Cadets. read more

• FOOTBALL: It's over and out for Zubry

  TWO goals in extra time saw Zubry Oxford narrowly edged out in the Sam Waters Cup third round 5-3 by Reading & District Sunday League side Henley Town, writes DARYL RIDGLEY. read more

• YOUTH FOOTBALL: Harris fires four-timer in Tower Hill glut

  GILES SPORTS WITNEY YOUTH LEAGUE read more

• WOMEN'S FOOTBALL: Tower Hill floored by a super strike

  Tower Hill Ladies fell to an 81st-minute goal as they went down 1-0 in their Southern Region League clash at Southampton. read more

• GIRLS' FOOTBALL: Taylor shines as Herts are broken

  Chinnor's Jo Taylor bagged a brace as the Oxford Mail Girls League Under 16 representative team enjoyed a spectacular 5-2 win away to Hertfordshire. read more

• SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: Oxon held in stalemate

  Defences ruled the roost as Oxfordshire opened their campaign in the ESFA Girls’ Under 16 Inter County Competition with a 0-0 draw against Wiltshire at Swindon Supermarine. read more

• SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL: Lamzini is the hero in extra-time

  Yasine Lamzini was Oxford Academy’s hero with an extra-time winner in their 4-3 victory at St Bartholomew’s (Newbury) in the ESFA Under 16 Premier League Schools’ Cup fifth round. read more

• GIRLS' FOOTBALL: High fives as Summertown capture title in super style

  Summertown Stars celebrated becoming Under 10 champions with a 5-3 home win over Wantage. read more

• Houses proposed to replace former dairy

  RESIDENTS have welcomed plans to build houses on Witney’s former dairy site. read more

• Oxford United boss Chris Wilder holds Portsmouth talks

  CHRIS Wilder met with representatives of Portsmouth’s board yesterday after Oxford United gave their manager permission to talk. read more

• Three-vehicle collision in Abingdon

  Drivers escaped injury in a three-vehicle collision in Abingdon this morning. read more

• Oxpens facilities not a good start to city visit

  COACHES bringing visitors to Oxford would be expected to park and drop their passengers at the Oxpens Coach Park, above, unless application has been made to the council for a permit to drop off in the city centre. read more

• How much detail is there over the infrastructure?

  I AM writing concerning Doric’s proposal at Botley. read more

• Good intentions are just poor foundations

  OXFORDSHIRE County Council’s decision not to bring forward the provision of new schools but to wait until “the earliest practicable date” for developers of around 5,000 houses planned in Wantage and Grove to decide it is suitable (for them, obviously) and that it would be talking to the principal of King Alfred’s School, about finding a temporary solution to accommodation problems exacerbated through already-built estates and others approved, makes distressing reading. read more

• This is a plan to push up local cost of living

  WELL now at last we know the truth behind the proposed development of the West Way centre by a speculative developer, which the Vale of White Horse District Council has contracted with, to bring forward proposals for development. read more

• Minister took the time to see how it worked

  YOUR editorial writer, November 19, covering shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds',  visit to Oxford clearly need a good break – there was no justification at all for the sour, negative tone. read more

• Amendment will once again make traders feel they’ve been let down

  I AM replying to stories about the Covered Market crisis. What crisis? read more

• Arsonists put listed building at risk

  AN ARSON attack could have seen a Grade II-listed village post office near Oxford “go up in flames” if churchgoers had not stepped in to help. read more

• I’ve a lot to be thankful for this festive season...

  Niall Strawson says that it has suddenly dawned on him that people are choosing accessible features in their homes to suit wheelchair users and his friends and relatives are putting effort into being able to include him in socialising by thinking of his needs... read more

• Woman cut free from car after crash

  A WOMAN passenger had to be cut out of a car after a crash in Oxford Road in Cowley yesterday. read more

• Vandals slash car tyres in Grandpont

  TYRES were slashed and punctured on six cars parked in Grandpont, South Oxford. read more

• Stars join in charity Christmas concert

  ABIGAIL'S Party star Alison Steadman led a charity’s Christmas concert last night. read more

• Jobs target beaten

  The number of new jobs created across Cherwell between July and September has smashed a target for the entire year. read more

• Work on weir starts as part of £3million project

  WORK has begun on replacing a weir in Oxford as part of a major renovation project. read more

• Man ordered to complete sex offender's course

  A MAN caught masturbating in the Westgate car park has been told to complete a sex offenders’ course. read more

• Paedophile is scum, claims grown-up victim’s husband

  A PENSIONER who sexually abused two young girls has been branded the “scum of the earth” by the husband of one of his victims. read more

• Death quarry reopens

  A quarry between Burford and Brize Norton, closed after a worker’s death at the site, reopened yesterday. read more

• Explorer delights union audience

  EXPLORER and author Sir Ranulph Fiennes addressed the Oxford Union on Monday night. read more

• Motorists facing months of misery as Network Rail upgrades 29 bridges

  COMMUNITIES have been warned to brace themselves for months of disruption under a multi-million pound scheme working on 29 rail bridges across the south of the county. read more

• COMMENT: Over to U's chairman as fans wait for vital decision

  THE late, great Bill Shankly, the former Liverpool manager who is still idolised on the red half of Merseyside, certainly had a way with words. read more

• COMMENT: One small step for womankind

  AS WE report today, the Church of England may be lumbering into the 21st century at last with its latest policy on the ordination of women bishops. read more

• Contest winner’s tasty ice cream treat

  COMPETITION winner Anna got the first taste of her winning ice-cream flavour with Robin Hood and Maid Marian in tow. read more

• Man killed himself while on bail over suicide of partner

  A MAN investigated for assisting the suicide of his ailing partner killed himself clutching her picture while on bail, a coroner heard yesterday. read more

• Co-op scales down store expansion plan

  PLANS to expand Chipping Norton’s Co-op supermarket have been scaled down. read more

• RUGBY UNION: Oxford name 13 Blues to face Cambridge

  Oxford University have named a record 13 old Blues in their starting line-up as they seek a fourth successive victory in the Varsity Match at Twickenham on Thursday, December 12. read more

• First Christmas Day bus service to serve airport

  OXFORD Bus Company will run its Airline service between Oxford and Heathrow Airport on Christmas Day for the first time. read more

• FOOTBALL: Wantage move top with a win

  Wantage Town A took advantage of Abingdon being on cup duty by moving to the top of North Berks League Division 2 on goal difference, writes PHIL ANNETS. read more

• Prolific thief is back inside after stealing charity boxes

  A BURGLAR repeatedly jailed for more than 90 crimes has been put behind bars again for a string of thefts that included swiping charity boxes. read more

• Waste not, want not, as school recycles food

  A DEVOURING beast is dealing with leftovers at Larkrise School in East Oxford, and it is not one of the children. read more

• Civil right campaigner hits out at Uni policies

  American civil rights campaigner, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, right, has said there are not enough black or poor students at Oxford and Cambridge Universities. read more

• Man punched in face

  A man was punched in the face on his own doorstep in an attack police believe relates to a domestic situation. read more