Archive

  • Fans warned over smoke bombs

    Oxford United could be in trouble with the FA if fans let off smoke bombs during tomorrow’s tie at Chelmsford. United’s supporters let off smoke bombs during last Saturday’s Blue Square Premier game at Grays Athletic. This came to the attention of the

  • Sandwith harbours Wembley dream

    Kevin Sandwith returns to Oxford United’s side at Chelmsford on Saturday still harbouring a Wembley dream, after just missing out on an FA Trophy final nine years ago. The 31-year-old defender comes back into the U’s starting line-up because Anthony

  • Cyclists' safety gear is the wheel deal

    YOUNG cyclists received an early lesson in road safety, following the donation of 40 helmets to their school. Most of the four and five-year-olds at Wheatley Primary School’s foundation unit cannot yet cycle unassisted, let alone take to the

  • Defiant Blair says war decision was the right one

    OPINION was split across Oxfordshire in the wake of Tony Blair’s appearance at the Chilcot Iraq War inquiry yesterday. The former Prime Minister defended his decision to go to war, at the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre in London.

  • Tanker spill closes road

    POLICE have closed the A417 at East Hendred in both directions after a tanker spilt diesel all over the road. The driver was trying to avoid an accident on the opposite side of the road when his vehicle skidded on debris. The tanker

  • Electricity station break-ins cause outages

    THIEVES breaking into electricity stations across the county cut power eight times to hundreds of homes. Metal thieves are being blamed, for damaging eight primary substations in the past three weeks. The substations, which have up to

  • Man jailed for £16,000 crack cocaine haul

    A 31-YEAR-OLD man who was found with £10,000 in cash and crack cocaine worth more than £16,000 was jailed for three years today. Winston Freeburn, right, of Lobelia Road, in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, was sentenced at the city’s crown court after

  • House prices hit 2007 levels

    HOUSE prices in Oxfordshire rose by 1.6 per cent last year, official figures released yesterday revealed. Statistics from the Government’s Land Registry show the average price of a property in the county in December was £228,317 – £3,624 more than the

  • A417 closed after crash

    THE A417 at East Hendred is blocked both ways near the White Road Junction after a collision this evening. Congestion is being reported on the westbound A417, towards the A4130. Debris is currently covering the road.

  • Schoolboy rock band wins top contest

    FOUR schoolboy musicians have set their sights on stardom after winning a prestigious contest. Matthew Arnold School pupils Alexis Panidis, Joe Peskett, George Readshaw and Dele Adewuyi, all 16, won the chance to record their unique brand of indie rock

  • Pub chef jailed for ‘frenzied’ killing

    A PUB chef who admitted killing an Oxfordshire teaching assistant has been jailed for life. Robert Cusworth, 25, of Levings Close, Aylesbury, pleaded guilty to murdering Sally Garwood while she was walking her dog in a town park on July 11

  • Youth on Oxford estate to be given a voice

    PLANS to start a new youth forum in one of Oxford’s “forgotten estates” are under way. Community leaders and young people from Northway decided to start the forum after seeing the success of other groups in Barton, Blackbird Leys and Rose Hill. Now

  • AWOL soldier faces court

    A soldier said to have refused to fight in Afghanistan pleaded guilty today to being absent without leave (Awol), his legal representative said. Lance Corporal Joe Glenton could face up to two years in prison, John Tipple said. The 27-year-old, from

  • Council supports apprentice schemes

    A COUNCIL is urging businesses across the county to consider taking on apprentices to fill vacancies. Oxfordshire County Council is supporting National Apprentice Week, from February 1 to 5, by putting its weight behind events to promote the role of

  • Oxford United fans urged to put hearts into health

    OXFORD United fans are being urging to have a free heart check at the team’s home game next weekend. NHS Oxfordshire, the county’s primary care trust, will be offering free heart checks to supporters aged between 40 and 74 when the U’s take on Kidderminster

  • Pupils' work goes on display at world-famous Saatchi gallery

    HUNDREDS of small chairs made by Abingdon schoolchildren, their parents and teachers are going on display in a world-famous gallery. The Small Chair Field was originally an art project at Fitzharrys School, but it grew and grew, eventually seeing between

  • Village date for top opera singer

    A TOP opera singer will be exchanging international opera houses for a village church next month, to help raise funds for essential repairs. World-class soprano Nicki Kennedy will be appearing at All Saints Church, North Moreton, on Saturday, February

  • School businesses show their wares in Oxford

    SCORES of teenage entrepreneurs will test the market for their innovative products at a special trade fair in a shopping centre. More than 20 companies set up by schools across the county will take stands at the Templars Square Shopping Centre

  • Wheelchair theft prompts offers of help

    A DISABLED mother whose wheelchair was stolen said last night her faith in humanity had been restored by kind-hearted readers. Lisa Dunn, 37, who lives in Cowley, suffers from a rare tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and without

  • Scales of Justice

    A LIST of people convicted of offences at magistrates' courts around the county recently: Joseph Knox, 32, of Speedwell Street, Oxford, admitted shoplifting two pairs of scissors costing £19.20 from Boots in Oxford on January 1. Fined £60 and

  • DUBAI: Living a life of luxury

    DUBAI – a destination where fantasy becomes reality. A magical place where dreams come alive. That had always been my impression of the United Arab Emirates. But was it true? My interest in Dubai stems from a passion for horse racing with the Godolphin

  • Delays on A34

    DRIVERS are facing delays on the A34 near Botley after a vehicle broke down earlier this afternoon. The inside lane is closed on the northbound side, just before the Botley interchange. The car has not yet been removed. Queues are also being reported

  • Cherwell council unveils plans for thousands of homes

    CHERWELL District Council has revealed where thousands of new homes will be built across the district. Bicester will take most of the new housing, but they will all be built as part of the ‘eco settlement’ on farmland in the north-west of the

  • Local shares (PM)

    AEA Technology 23.75 BMW 2694 Electrocomponents 175.9 Gladstone 27.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 92.5 Oxford Biomedica 11.5 Oxford Catalysts 45.5 Oxford Instruments 247.5 Reed Elsevier 500.2 RM 173.25 RPS Group 204 Courtesy of Redmayne

  • Revamped Pegasus rising from the rubble

    IT may look more like a building site than anything else at the moment. But under the scaffolding, exposed pipework and sections of air-conditioning systems, the new Pegasus Theatre is beginning to take shape. The work going on behind painted hoardings

  • The Magic Toyshop

    Ethereal terror by moonlight, impossible love between opposites, magical living dolls and murderous obsession. It sounds like material enough for several plays, and yet this is merely the first act of this pacy new adaptation of Angela Carter's novel

  • Karate team skip to stardom

    A GROUP of high-kicking karate kids are skipping the light fantastic in a reality TV competition. Jump Nation, an X Factor-style CBBC programme which aims to find Britain’s best skipper, airs on Saturday mornings on BBC 2. It follows dancers, hip-hop

  • SWIMMING: Sensational Nienke strikes gold - eight times

    Nienke Lijzenka collected an impressive haul of eight gold medals for Abingdon Vale at the Maxwell SC Level 2 meet in Aylesbury. The 11-year-old, who also won a silver medal, dominated the meeting with an excellent all-round display. Other Vale swimmers

  • ANGLING: Oxford'd relief channel on hold

    FOR the third time this winter, the Environment Agency have put a Flood Watch on rivers and streams around Oxford and prospects for the immediate future look bleak. Meanwhile, a proposal to build a flood relief channel around Oxford has been put on

  • ANGLING: Free DVD from Linear

    Richworth Linear Fisheries, whose big-fish waters include several lakes at Stanton Harcourt, have just sent me a DVD, which I can heartily recommend. It features well-known big fish experts Martin Bowler and Bryan Jarrett, who offer information on

  • ANGLING: Scott tops bill with roach bag

    Once again, the majority of matches last Sunday were cancelled or moved to alternative venues because of the state of the rivers around Oxfordshire. Yarnton took 12 members over to Walter’s Lake at South Cerney and although it was a bit chilly, it fished

  • SCHOOL SPORT: St Helen girls in title treble

    Girls from St Helen & St Katharine, Abingdon reeled off a hat-trick of titles at the Vale of White Horse Schools’ Cross Country Championships at Radley College. Zoe Ten set the ball rolling with victory in the under 13 girls’ race, coming

  • SCHOOL SPORT: Olympian proves big hit

    Olympic sprinter Christian Malcolm put school children through their paces as he gave them an insight into life in the fast lane, writes SAM McGREGOR. The World Championship medallist had scores of Dashwood School, Banbury pupils doing star jumps, press

  • TABLE TENNIS: Forum in cruise control

    Kidlington Forum B moved ten points clear at the top of Division 1 with an 8-2 win against Vikings B in the Oxford & District Association. Ellis Bicknell and Andrew Flint remained unbeaten. Rutherford beat British Rail 6-4, with Neil Hurford scoring

  • Body found in offices identified

    A man found dead in offices above Witney's Post Office has been identified. David Godfrey was found by workers at the building in High Street on Tuesday. The 46-year-old was visiting Witney from his home in Falmouth, Cornwall. An inquest will be opened

  • CRICKET: Murrey's the star

    Steve Murrey was the star as Great & Little Tew A beat Bodicote by 20 runs in Division 2 of the Banbury Indoor League. Tew were bowled out for 99, Murrey top-scoring with 48. In reply, Bodicote fell to 79 all out with one ball left, Murrey taking 3-

  • MOTOR SPORT: Harrison crowned

    Oxford youngster Nathan Harrison was last week presented with his trophy for becoming the youngest winner of the Mini Max British Championship. Harrison, 13, from Botley, also got the congratulations of Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button, who also

  • MOTOR SPORT: Bratt is ready to hit road

    Banbury's Will Bratt returns to track action next week in rounds three and four of the GP2 Asia Series in Abu Dhabi. Bratt is relishing returning to action, having not raced since the championship-opener in November. The 21-year-old said: “It’s been

  • BILLIARDS: Ashton crash to shock defeat

    Divisions 2 basement boys Eynsham pulled off a shock 2-1 win against Division 1 leaders Ashton in the Oxford & District League. Dean Watson beat Pete Fenn 150-122, but John Street levelled with a 150-70 win against Dean’s brother, Robert. Roy Gascoyne

  • SNOOKER: Riley's battlers progress

    Riley B made the last four of the Simonds Cup by battling back three times to beat Woodstock A 4-3. Stuart Reeve beat Malcolm Bough 50-41 to fire Riley ahead, but Matthew Challen levelled with a 70-38 win over Justin Page. Priyan Shah

  • BOXING: Flynn is handed place in last 16

    Berinsfield's Jordan Flynn claimed his second Home Counties schoolboy title without having to lace a glove as the title trail got under way last weekend. Flynn was unchallenged in the Class 2 (under 14 years) 46 kg division and is now through to the

  • GREYHOUNDS: Farloe looks good bet

    Farloe Ellie, out of luck in two open races recently, can get back to winning ways in the Time Cracker Trophy over 595 metres, just one of the Gilly Hepden kennel-sponsored races on Saturday night. She has a best time of 36.80 over the trip and will

  • GREYHOUNDS: Dream over for Yeates ace

    Rosstemple Dream, one of Richard Yeates’s finest performers over the past five years, has retired. Dream, a winner of 32 open races and 40 in all, had a one in three strike rate. In all she ran 109 races and will now take up duties as a brood bitch

  • River Thames back on flood watch

    A flood watch was reimposed on the River Thames in Oxfordshire today, less than 24 hours after it was removed. Overnight rain led to the reimposition of the alert - the lowest issued by the Environment Agency - for the river from Buscot down

  • You recycled nearly 2,000 trees

    Residents in Oxford recycled 1,926 Christmas trees, according to the city council. The trees are being turned into mulch, to use in the city’s parks and shrub beds. John Tanner, executive board members for a cleaner, greener Oxford,

  • Alert after caravan theft bids

    Police are urging residents to be vigilant and ensure their caravans have sufficient security, after two attempted thefts. The most recent offence took place on Tuesday, where four men attempted to remove the wheelclamps from a caravan parked on a

  • Man arrested over stabbing bailed

    AN 18-year-old man arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm has been released on police bail until Thursday. The arrest was in relation to an incident in Oxford on Sunday, when a doorman at The Four Candles pub in George Street

  • Teenager bailed over pub stabbing

    An 18-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm yesterday, has been released on police bail until February 4. The arrest was in relation to an incident in Oxford on Sunday, when a doorman at The Four Candles pub in

  • Man charged with North Oxford stabbing

    Police have charged a man in connection with a stabbing in Banbury Road, Oxford, on Wednesday. Lewis Buck, 21, of Banbury Road, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to endanger life. Buck will appear at Oxford Magistrates

  • Abingdon soldier in court for "desertion"

    AN Abingdon soldier accused of desertion after he refused to fight in Afghanistan will appear in court today. Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, of 4 Logistic Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, based at Dalton Barracks, will appear via videolink at the

  • Job Club is one-year-old

    A JOB club set up to help the unemployed has celebrated its first birthday. More than 4,000 people have visited the club's meetings in Banbury and Bicester in the last 12 months. The Job Club was the brainchild of North Oxfordshire MP Tony Baldry,

  • Light the flame

    HAVING the Olympic torch coming through the city and the county in the lead up to the 2012 Games would be a big boost. However, we hope there will be more than that. It would be almost inconceivable that the torch will not pass through the city given

  • Leah’s creation is a sweet success

    A teenager with a sweet tooth has raised hundreds of pounds for an Oxford hospice. Leah Graham, of Bescot Drive, Abingdon, invented a new flavour of fudge to raise money for Helen & Douglas House in East Oxford, as a way of showing gratitude

  • Hard day's night fixing the roads

    BLACKBURN, Lancashire, famously had 4,000 holes in its roads, according to The Beatles. Driving around Oxfordshire now it doesn’t feel too dissimilar. Yesterday, Oxfordshire County Council admitted it was having to fill in about 200 potholes a day since