Archive

  • Snow: Business hit hard

    The snow caused massive disruption to businesses across the county with staff struggling to reach factories and offices. Production at the Cowley Mini factory was suspended, while designer shopping outlet Bicester Village was also closed for

  • SNOW: Mini plant update

    THE early/day shift at BMW's Mini plant in Oxford tomorrow have been cancelled because of the snow, the company said tonight. However it is expecting the late/night shift will go ahead. BMW shut down production at the plant in Cowley today because of

  • SNOW: Cold temperatures forecast, snow at weekend

    WEATHER forecasters are not predicting any more snow for a couple of days but it will return at the weekend. And, while we've seen off Whiteout Wednesday, the cold snap is likely to see the white stuff stick around on the ground in the meantime with

  • SNOW: Big freeze scuppers county's shops and businesses

    THE snow caused massive disruption to businesses across the county with staff struggling to reach factories and offices. Production at the Cowley Mini factory was suspended, while designer shopping outlet Bicester Village was also closed for

  • Snow: Police issue driving tips

    Thames Valley Police issued these road safety tips to motorists: Stopping distances in snow and ice are four or five times greater than normal – so slow down and leave more room Drive smoothly, using gears rather than brakes to slow

  • Snow: Schools likely to stay shut

    Parents and pupils have been warned today hundreds of Oxfordshire schools are likely to remain shut tomorrow. An Oxfordshire County Council spokesman said: "We are informing parents that they should work on the assumption that schools that

  • CRICKET: Umpires could snub Rowant

    Umpires on the Home Counties Premier League panel may refuse to stand at Aston Rowant next season. A number of officials are threatening a boycott of matches at Butts Way in the wake of last year’s brawl between Rowant’s Tim Miles and Basingstoke & North

  • CRICKET: Woods quits Bicester to lead Downs

    Darryl Woods has joined Oxford Downs as captain, with Andy Buckingham coming in as the ambitious club’s new coach. The moves, which are set to to be ratified at Downs’ annual meeting on Thursday, January 14 come as Woods outlined a three-year

  • AUNT SALLY: Lyon roars for Elmfield

    Neil Lyon clanged off a six in his 16 dolls as Elmfield whitewashed Cock Inn 6-0 in the latest round of matches in the Yarnton RBL League. RESULTS Kidlington Indoor League: Kidlington SC 4, Kings Arms (Tackley) 2; Kings Arms (Moors) 0, Oxford Cheetahs

  • ICE HOCKEY: Stars stung by Hornets twice

    Oxford City Stars suffered double disappointment as they crashed to a brace of defeats against Bracknell Hornets in Division 1 South. Stars slipped to a 5-3 defeat at Bracknell on Saturday, before crashing to a 9-3 loss in the return game at Oxford Ice

  • BAR BILLIARDS: Hot-shot Sheard leads the way

    Steven Sheard holds the highest away score in the Johnsons Buildbase Oxford & District League with 16,950 at this stage of the season. Highest Away Scores Premier Section: S Sheard 16,950. Section 1: G Mace 7,490. Section 2: S Ellam 5,830. Section

  • GOLF: Rummings honoured by North Oxford

    Mark Rummings, who is in the top 300 professionals in America, has been given life membership of North Oxford GC, where he first learned to play. As a junior, the 31-year-old won the club championship four times and represented them in the Oxfordshire

  • SNOW: Widespread school closures likely tomorrow

    PARENTS and pupils have been warned today hundreds of Oxfordshire schools are likely to remain shut tomorrow. An Oxfordshire County Council spokesman said: "We are informing parents that they should work on the assumption that schools that

  • SNOW: Police issue safety tips to drivers

    Police issued these road safety tips to motorists: * Stopping distances in snow and ice are four or five times greater than normal – so slow down and leave more room * Drive smoothly, using gears rather than brakes to slow down * Clear windows and

  • Trio remain in hospital

    TWO men and a woman remain in hospital today after a machete-wielding gang broke into a house. Police launched an attempted murder investigation after all three victims suffered machete wounds and the woman was injured falling from a first

  • Family flee house fire

    A MOTHER and five children had to flee as a fire engulfed their 14th Century home in Appleton. The mother had been putting the children to bed at the house in Netherton Road at about 8.30pm on Tuesday when a fire alarm was activated and they noticed

  • Shoppers asked to make one more big push to recycle

    SHOPPERS have been asked to make a final effort to re-use their plastic bags, as a recycling scheme nears its end. Bags of Life has been running in conjunction with many Witney town centre shops for the past months but will finish at the end of January

  • RUGBY UNION: Forster doubles up

    Henley Hawks head coach Jason Forster is now combining his duties at Dry Leas with a role at a new club in North Wales. The former Wales international has joined the development side, known as RGC (Rygbi Gogledd Cymru) 1404, as part-time forwards coach

  • RUGBY UNION: Half-term report

    With the season near its midway point and the prospect of matches this weekend bleak, now seems a good time for a half-term report. If Oxfordshire’s rugby clubs were marked out of ten for their performances so far in 2009-10, how would they fare? My

  • Kirtlington woman named Smallholder of the Year

    A WOMAN who lives on a narrowboat and gets her milk fresh from a Jersey cow has been named Smallholder of the Year for 2009. Jane Fanner, 58, who has lived on her boat in Kirtlington with its 32-acre smallholding for 13 years, said the reasons

  • RUGBY UNION: 'We can defeat anyone'

    Wallingford enter 2010 with every reason to be confident, says head coach Chris Norrington. Saturday’s 37-20 victory over Buckingham means they have now won six league games in a row in South West 1 East after a stuttering start to the season. And Norrington

  • RUGBY UNION: Oxon trio in South West squad

    Three Oxfordshire players have been named in the South West squad for the under 16 divisional festival. Lock Matt Thomas (Shiplake College) and flanker Gus Jones (Eton College) will start in their match against the North, which has been postponed

  • Spectator book reviewer shoots himself in the foot

    The practice of literary criticism can be hazardous to the reputation of a critic. This is especially the case for a critic who identifies ‘errors’ in the work under consideration that are not errors at all, or who makes silly blunders of his or

  • More tales of the top-notch

    The concerns of this column are more than usually nobby today – and you don’t come much nobbier than James Douglas-Hamilton. Younger son of the Duke of Hamilton – to visit whom Rudolf Hess made his ill-fated wartime flight – he was born Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

  • Cockadoo Bar and Restaurant, Nuneham Courtenay

    The swanky good looks of the decor at Cockadoo Bar and Restaurant and the matching visual appeal of the food served there are instantly apparent from Jon Lewis’s photographs. This is surely one of the most colourful pages we have presented to readers

  • Celebrating the gifts of the Magi

    Someone who became Bishop of Poitiers in about 350AD may not seem a likely candidate for much mention in modern-day Oxford, but his name will, probably unwittingly, be much on the lips of undergraduates and dons during the coming week; for he was St Hilary

  • Local food is best for us and the planet

    I first met Jake Kingsbury during the summer at the Children’s Food Festival and was impressed by his enthusiasm for local produce. Although Jake grew up in Oxfordshire, he and his wife Lucy spent some years in Melbourne, Australia, and London before

  • Preview of The Snow Queen at The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury

    If you are looking for a way to banish those post-Christmas blues, then the Cherwell Theatre Company’s production of The Snow Queen, which opens on Monday, might well do the trick. Hans Christian Andersen’s heart-warming tale of friendship, loyalty and

  • It's complicated

    Failure is an education. That’s particularly true of romantic dalliances: to truly appreciate perfection, first you must recognise the qualities that will drive you to distraction. Everybody wants the fairytale ending, but to find a prince or princess

  • Snow: Travel latest

    DELAYS of up to an hour on Oxford Bus Company services going into London are reported. The company is also experiencing delays on its number 2 service to Kidlington and other buses are not stopping in estates including Elms Rise, Wolvercote

  • Outlet village 'needs road revamp'

    Hundreds of people have joined an online campaign calling for improvements to the junction for Bicester Village. A resident has also launched a petition in efforts to solve the problem. During the post-Christmas sales, motorists caused gridlock

  • CAMPAIGN: Outlet village needs road revamp

    HUNDREDS of people have joined an online campaign calling for improvements to the junction for Bicester Village. A resident has also launched a petition in efforts to solve the problem. During the post-Christmas sales, motorists caused gridlock on the

  • SNOW: Mini plant closed

    OXFORD's Mini plant has shut down for the day. Some areas of the plant in Cowley did start work this morning but then bosses decided to suspend operations due to the weather. Spokesman Rebecca Baxter said a decision about resuming work tomorrow will

  • First look at Abbey plans

    THE first images of the multi-million pound redevelopment of Abingdon’s Abbey Shopping Centre and Charter area have been released. Artist’s impressions reveal how the ambitious project to transform the rundown Bury Street precinct, off Market Place,

  • SNOW: SODC offices closing early

    South Oxfordshire District Council will be closing its offices from 1pm today due to the continuing heavy snow, freezing temperatures and hazardous roads. Weather permitting, it will reopen tomorrow as normal but residents and staff are advised to check

  • SNOW: Bicester to Oxford rail suspended for day

    TRAINS between Bicester and Oxford have been suspended for the rest of the day because of the snow. First Great Western have also said that services between Oxford and Paddington are running with delays of up to 10 minutes. The Worcester to Paddington

  • United announce rearranged Rushden dates

    Oxford United’s two postponed holdiay games against Rushden & Diamonds have been rearranged for midweek. The clash at the Kassam Stadium will be played on Tuesday, February 16 , while United will travel to Nene Park on Wednesday, March

  • Trio attacked by machete gang

    Two men and a woman were attacked by a machete-wielding gang who forced their way into a house in Bicester. Police have launched an attempted murder investigation after five men burst into the house in Lapwing Close, at 8.10pm, yesterday. A 29-year-old

  • Attempted murder in Bicester

    Two men and a woman were attacked by a gang who forced their way into a house in Bicester. Police have launched an attempted murder investigation after five men burst into the house in Lapwing Close, at 8.10pm, yesterday. A 29-year-old

  • Snow: Waste collections suspended

    Waste and recycling collection services have been suspended in West Oxfordshire. The district council said they would remain suespended until it was safe for heavy waste collection vehicles to travel on side roads. A spokesman said:

  • Snow: Nominate your heroes

    Want to thank a guardian angel who came to your aid in the snow? Did family or friends go that extra mile when the winter weather took hold? If so, then we want to hear about your snow heroes and stories. Call the newsdesk on 01865 425445

  • Snow: Updated list of school closures

    About 250 schools across Oxfordshire are closed this morning because of the heavy snowfall overnight. The county council says the list is being added to and may not yet be complete. •All Saints Church of England Primary School in Didcot

  • SNOW: Updated list of school closures

    About 250 schools across Oxfordshire are closed this morning because of the heavy snowfall overnight. The county council says the list is being added to and may not yet be complete. •All Saints Church of England Primary School in Didcot

  • FIA consider appeal against Briatore ruling

    The FIA are considering appealing against a French court's decision to order the overturning of a lifetime ban from motorsport the governing body had imposed against Flavio Briatore. The former boss of the Enstone-based Renault F1 team was rejoicing

  • Snow: 8.45 travel and weather update

    Snow is continuing to fall across Oxfordshire this morning causing difficult driving conditions for drivers across the county. The southbound carriageway of the M40 between junction 11 at Banbury and 10 for Brackley is closed after a lorry

  • SNOW: Chiltern Railways update

    CHILTERN Railways is warning passengers that access to its stations in Oxfordshire is extremely difficult due to the snow and is urging them to reconsider whether they need to travel today. A number of Chiltern's planned services in today's emergency

  • SNOW: 8.30 travel and weather update

    Snow is continuing to fall across Oxfordshire this morning causing difficult driving conditions for drivers across the county. The southbound carriageway of the M40 between junction 11 at Banbury and 10 for Brackley is closed after a lorry

  • Foster could be on way out of Oxford United

    Oxford United have completed the signing of Cambridge left back Anthony Tonkin, but also released Chris Carruthers and Marcus Kelly – and central defender Luke Foster could be on his way too. Tonkin, 29, who has played for Yeovil, Stockport, Crewe and

  • Fire crews battle country house blaze

    Firefighters continue to bring a blaze at a country house under control this morning. Crews were called to a large detached house in Netherton Road, Appleton, last night after reports that its roof and first floor were ablaze. At its

  • Snow: Travel update S.Oxon

    Bus operator Thames Travel is operating as many routes as possible this morning in south Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse. The X39 Oxford-Wallingford route is operating to a normal timetable, subject to some delays due to the road conditions

  • Snow: School closures

    The following Oxfordshire schools are closed today because of heavy overnight snowfall: • All Saints Church of England Primary School, Didcot. • Appleton Church of England Primary School. • Bampton Church of England Primary School

  • SNOW: 7.25am travel update

    Bus operator Thames Travel is operating as many routes as possible this morning in south Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse. The X39 Oxford-Wallingford route is operating to a normal timetable, subject to some delays due to the road

  • Snow: 7am travel update

    Major roads across Oxfordshire have been snowploughed and salted overnight and are described by the county council as "passable with care" although drivers are being advised not to travel unless absolutely necessary. The southbound M40 is

  • SNOW: Latest weather forecast

    Snow showers are expected to continue throughout the morning across Oxfordshire. However, heavy snow should give way to lighter flurries later in the day. Forecasters have warned of freezing conditions tonight when temperatures could dip to as low as

  • SNOW: 7am travel update

    Major roads across Oxfordshire have been snowploughed and salted overnight and are described by the county council as "passable with care" although drivers are being advised not to travel unless absolutely necessary. The southbound M40 is

  • Crackdown to be launched on estate's dangerous dogs

    VICTIMS of dog attacks have welcomed plans to bring dangerous dogs to heel on Oxford’s largest estate. The RSPCA, police and councillors will meet later this month to get to grips with new Government guidance on dangerous dogs. The summit

  • Fish trader turns detective to net £9k fish thieves

    A BUSINESSMAN who turned detective to catch two men with thousands of pounds worth of stolen exotic fish was celebrating last night after the pair were jailed. David Rose, manager at Maidenhead Aquatics, South Hinksey, was praised by police