The parents of a woman crushed to death by a diseased tree have welcomed Oxford City Council's decision to fell 50 infected horse chestnuts within a month. An audit of 1,629 trees by arboricultural experts has revealed that 475 required attention and
A teenager found dead near an Oxford city park-and-ride killed himself after fashioning a make-shift 'guillotine' using a drainpipe, rope and a knife. An inquest into the death of Dmitrij Machankov, 19, of Barns Road, Cowley, Oxford, heard yesterday
Eight cars were seized and dozens of fines were issued to motorists by police during a series of stop-checks in Oxford yesterday. One motorist was given an £80 penalty fine for making obscene gestures with both hands to a police camera during an Automatic
An MP fears doctors are being "brainwashed" over plans to downgrade children's and maternity treatment at Banbury's Horton Hospital. Banbury MP Tony Baldry warned that proposals for the hospital, due to be unveiled in July, could be little different
A man is in hospital after being shot at a police training base. Police said the injured man is a member of Thames Valley Police support staff who was shot during a firearms awareness training session in Kidlington at about 12.25pm today. A police
Fourteen animal rights campaigners walked free from court today after a judge condemned the police for unlawfully stopping their protest. The protesters were all cleared of refusing police orders to break up the demonstration against Oxford University's
Fire crews fought a "race against time" to save a canal barge which became trapped in strong currents tonight. The barge became stuck between two banks on the River Thames, near Osney Island, at about 6pm. Fast-flowing water caused by recent heavy
The mother of a 15-year-old boy with special needs has spoken of the "constant battle" she fights to ensure her son receives the education he deserves. Mother of four Diane Buckett, from Headington, Oxford, said her son - whom she asked us not to name
An Algerian asylum seeker died after accidentally overdosing on anti-depressants - just weeks after he was granted leave to stay in the country. Kada Souameur, 37, of Fern Hill Road, Oxford, was found slumped over a bed in a house in Lytton Road, Cowley
The company which owns Didcot Power Station has rejected the idea of a nuclear plant on its site. Industrial areas in Didcot and Harwell are two possible places for the UK's next generation of nuclear power plants, according to a Government paper published
A 250-seat theatre, cinema, 10-pin bowling alley, youth facilities, shops, homes and a restaurant are among ideas for redeveloping Abingdon's Old Gaol. The bid from Reading-based property management company Brook Henderson Estates is one of eight received
Teenage entrepreneurs will present business ideas to a 'Dragons' Den' style panel in a bid to secure £1,000 start-up grants. The Oxford-based Angels' Den project involves budding business people, aged between 11 and 18, who have come up with business
'Elba. Mmmm. Isn't that the place where....?" Now to borrow a well-worn saying, if I'd had a penny for every time some boring so-and-so asked if this was where Napoleon died, I could have paid not only for my trip there, but everyone else's on the flight
Nina Armstrong, who successfully campaigned for equal parking rights for carers of people with disabilities, has died aged 86. Mrs Armstrong was born on April 21, 1921, to First World War fighter pilot Percy Waddilove and his wife Louise, who lived
There are only three days to go before more than 4,000 athletes descend on Woodstock for this year's Blenheim Triathlon. There have been record entries for this year's event, which takes place in the grounds of Blenheim Palace. It will see triathletes
Two people are in a serious condition in hospital following a crash on the A44 south of Chipping Norton today. The road is currently closed both ways between Woodstock and Enstone after a collision between two cars at about 4pm. One person was taken
This week has been Children's TV Week, although you may not have noticed because the BBC has made little fanfare about it and tucked the programmes away on BBC4 so that they are inaccessible to many viewers. Yet it's an important subject, as children's
Having confronted sexual bigotry in Fire (1996) and religious sectarianism in Earth (1999), Deepa Mehta set out to complete her 'elements trilogy' with Water in 2000. But she was forced to abandon the project after groups linked to the Hindu fundamentalist
In keeping with tradition, Michael Ian Black's romantic comedy Wedding Daze offers something old (most of the gags), something new (the romantic pairing of Jason Biggs and Isla Fisher), something borrowed (larger-than-life supporting characters defined
Teenage entrepreneurs will present business ideas to a 'Dragons' Den' style panel in a bid to secure £1,000 start-up grants. The Oxford-based Angels' Den project involves budding business people, aged between 11 and 18, who have come up with business
This was the premiere of Menelva Harry's new work, Snake in the Geisha Palm, an intriguing and effective piece highlighting her interest in oriental martial arts. It's a blend of Chinese and Japanese influences, and tells of two Geishas, both in love
We, as local elected representatives with an interest and concerns about the wellbeing of Peers School at Littlemore, Oxford, are writing to let you know why we are supporting the proposal for it to become an academy. The academy brings with it millions
The organisers of the Spin Jazz Club, Pete Oxley and Mark Doffman, have been in the business long enough to avoid clumsy mistakes in their programming. This is born out by the fact that the club was short-listed for the second time in the Parliamentary
If you venture through a secret door into a walled arbour you will discover three very different and talented artists in an old barn. Inspired by her collections of china, bags, belts and boxes, and her garden, Sue Rangeley's delicate botanic watercolours
Pirandello's play was booed off the stage as the work of a madman at its premiere in Rome in 1921. Today, his use of the play as metaphor, the distinction, if any, between the real and the assumed self, the mask and the face, the persona and the person
Fierce Vision is a fitting title for this impressive show, by the artist David Tress, at the Brian Sinfield Gallery in Burford. The ferocity is in the making: the vision is of raw beauty. Paint is applied to paper with an energy and passion that almost
The warm-up scene of Dud & Pete: Come Again, a tribute to fondly-remembered comedians Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, was promising, setting up a TV set with actors, radio engineers and whatnot wandering about measuring angles, adjusting furniture, vaguely
This was the first concert I'd been to where the players actually wore the programme. Last Saturday the Oxford Chamber Orchestra offered several Caribbean pirates (one with parrot), a jaunty Robin Hood, a Hogwarts prefect with a genuine Gryffindor tie
The Half Moon in St Clements was certainly Oxford's smallest pub up until the 1980s. It probably still is today, despite expansion into what had been union offices next door. The picture above, taken in 1981, shows about half the 'trading area'. This
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A cyclist suffered back injuries after a collision with a car. Police have appealed for witnesses to the crash in Woodgreen Avenue, Bretch Hill, Banbury, at about 8.40am on Thursday. The cyclist was taken to The Horton Hospital with back injuries,
A pensioner was robbed by a hooded man or boy who grabbed her and pushed her to the ground. The 76-year-old woman was walking along a footpath by allotments off of Evenlode, Banbury, at about 11.40am on Thursday. The robber was wearing a grey hooded
TALKS are continuing between Banbury-based software firm iSoft and US company Computer Sciences Corp, which is threatening to block iSoft's takeover deal. Last month iSoft, whose share price crashed last year after it issued a profit warning, told investors
NUCLEAR scientists at Harwell could be balloted for industrial action over cuts in funding which could lead to more than 90 job losses. The move comes after Harwell was named last week as a possible site for a new nuclear power station. The scientists
A burglar is thought to have broken into six homes in one day. In each of the burglaries in west Oxfordshire, an offender got in through a door or ground-floor window and stole items, mainly jewellery. Detectives believe the incidents are linked.
THE "special character" of two of Oxfordshire's most picturesque villages has been recorded to make sure that any future development remains in keeping with their surroundings. Conservation area character appraisals of Bloxham and Hook Norton have been
Two city councillors have been welcomed to the bosom of the national Conservative Party. David Cameron, the party's national leader, himself made a parade of this, their second change of political spots in the last year. This sorry spectacle makes
Residents protesting against plans to build a steel-framed car park opposite their homes have sent a petition to councillors and developers. Cherwell District Council wants to build a temporary multi-storey on Bicester's Claremont car park to replace
A 250-seat theatre, cinema, 10-pin bowling alley, youth facilities, shops, homes and a restaurant are among ideas for redeveloping Abingdon's Old Gaol. The bid from Reading-based property management company Brook Henderson Estates is one of eight received
I walk along the Oxford Thames towpath between Rose Hill, Iffley and Donnington Bridge every day and have done so for many years with my previous dogs and now my new pooch. I would like to highlight some concerns I have about safety issues on this route
There is more to the work of the Salvation Army than bands, tambourines, selling copies of The War Cry and preaching about the dangers of drink. The "Sally Army" in Abingdon celebrates its 120th birthday this year. And like the rest of the movement
A teenager whose father died of leukaemia this month has battled on with two sponsored football matches to raise funds into treatment of the disease. Fifteen-year-old Steven Beakes, of Queensway in Didcot, had already organised his youth club team to
FEARS that local doctors are being brainwashed over plans to downgrade children's and maternity treatment at Banbury's Horton Hospital have been raised by town MP Tony Baldry. The MP has also warned that revised proposals for the Horton, due to be unveiled
Oxford City Council is to embark on an urgent tree-felling exercise after tests showed 50 need to be cut down within a month. Private company Bartlett Tree Care has been given a contract to survey 32,000 trees across the city over the next three years
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Oxford City Council is to embark on an urgent tree-felling exercise after tests showed 50 need to be cut down within a month. Private company Bartlett Tree Care has been given a contract to survey 32,000 trees across the city over the next three years
Javelin thrower Danielle Anderson struck gold for Oxford City at the South of England Under 17/15 Championships at Ashford. Competing an age group up at under 17 on Saturday - rather than the following day's under 15 event - due to football commitments
John Weller whipped off a double sixer in his 16-doll haul as Royal Sun clinched a 2-1 home win over Queen's Head in Section 2 of the Greene King Aunt Sally League. Sun took the first leg 23-18, but lost the second 21-19. In the third, they set 29 which
Hook Norton have had two long-awaited practice nets installed following a series of grants. The £24,500 facility has been funded by the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, SITA Landfill Trust and Lord's Taverners. Paul White, joint-chairman of the
Chinnor Academy begin pre-season training tomorrow with the emphasis on fitness and conditioning. Training will step up from once a week to twice in July, and will include a full session with National 1 side Coventry. Head coach Clive Davies said:
Oxford Cavaliers slipped to a 50-18 defeat at Bristol Sonics in the Totalrl.com Conference West Midlands Division. Bristol were always going to prove strong opponents, but late withdrawals and injuries meant Cavaliers could only field a squad of 14.
Tim Henman dismissed any talk of retiring after being on the receiving end of a hammering by unheralded Ernests Gulbis in the first round of the French Open. The British No 2 was routed 6-4 6-3 6-2 by the inspired Latvian, an 18-year-old ranked 84th
Kevin Brock has resigned as boss of Banbury United after eight years at the helm. It is believed the Oxford United legend left following plans by the British Gas Business Southern League Premier Division club's board to cut his playing budget for next
CITY councillors have pledged to clamp down on supermarkets which fail to retrieve shopping trolleys dumped in streets and gardens across Oxford. New legislation came into effect in April which aims to put pressure on supermarkets to introduce measures
AN Oxford woman is being hunted by police and people in internet chatrooms for subjecting a July 7 bombing victim to a year-long 'cyber-stalking' campaign. Felicity Jane Lowde, of Jackson Road, Oxford, has also become the subject of an online "Wanted
AN airman from RAF Benson was killed when his helicopter "fell from the sky" on his first mission in Iraq, an inquest heard yesterday. Flt Lt Kristian Gover, 30, of 33 Squadron, had only been based in Basra for a few days before dying of smoke inhalation
RESIDENTS protesting against plans to build a steel-framed car park opposite their homes have launched a petition. Cherwell District Council wants to build a temporary multi-storey on Bicester's Claremont car park to replace spaces lost while the £70m
FIRST there was the barometer, then came the swingometer - and now Oxford City Council has brought in the 'opinionmeter'. The small unattended automated machine is being installed at all the city council's leisure facilities to find out what the public
A POLICE crackdown has been launched today on 'charity' con artists who are targetting Oxford city centre. The warning is going out to both tourists and locals who run the risk of falling victim to illegal charity collectors who are fraudulently taking
THE RAF has defended its inaugural Spirit of Adventure event, following criticism from some visitors. On Saturday, PR executive Lucy Wigginton from communications company Republic Media, said that 8,000 people had gone through the gate that day and
Talented teenager Steve Davis (pictured) has been given a glowing endorsement by Oxford City player-manager Justin Merritt after signing a one-year contract at Court Place Farm. The 18-year-old, who plays at left back or in midfield, has attracted the
Barry Logan ended a long wait for his first winner when he rode He's A Dinger to a shock 20-1 victory at a rain-soaked Kingston Blount, near Chinnor. Logan, who trains the eight-year-old at Marsh Gibbon, near Bicester, first rode in point-to-points
Aston Rowant could seek advice from the International Cricket Council after Zimbabwe Test spinner Graeme Cremer withdrew as their overseas player and coach. Cremer, 20, signed a contract with Rowant and was due to make his debut in their Home Counties
A LANDLORD duped into renting her house out to cannabis farmers posing as students has warned other homeowners to be on their guard. The 38-year-old mother-of-two went to inspect the house in Harcourt Terrace at 8pm last Thursday and discovered more
MICK'S Café - one of the last bastions of never-say-die smokers - is holding a trial no smoking day to prepare customers for the nationwide ban on July 1. The cafe in Cripley Road, off Botley Road, has been serving up cooked breakfasts for decades.
ARMED police surrounded a gunman seen on security cameras to be threatening passers-by in Oxford city centre - only to discover he was brandishing a plastic toy gun. Steven Dancer, 20, was celebrating a birthday on Friday with friends who were in fancy
Homes in Oxford are the fifth most likely to be burgled in the UK, according to new research. Insurance claims made to Endsleigh reveal households in Oxford are more at risk than homeowners in Bristol, Manchester or Glasgow. Recent police figures
A BUILDER was hurt after he fell several floors while working in a city centre shop on Tuesday. The 53-year-old man, who has not been named, suffered leg injuries after falling through a ceiling and landing in a basement of the building which is currently
