A CAMPING gas canister caught fire and exploded at a house in Chilton, near Didcot, after a dog jumped up in the kitchen and turned the cooker on. Firefighters were called to Elderfield Road at 3.20pm on Sunday. Watch manager Andy Beal
MOTORISTS are being asked to open their car doors to fellow commuters with a new lift-sharing scheme aimed at cutting the congestion on Oxfordshire’s roads. County Hall is to spend £30,000 over the next three years to run a website called Oxfordshire
FUTURE plans for housing in Banbury could drop by almost a third after Government targets were scrapped. The move comes after Local Government and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles effectively tore up the South East Plan, which set housing targets for
A LANDOWNER is furious after a Chinese lantern destroyed thousands of pounds worth of barley. Twenty five firefighters tackled the severe crop blaze at Stonesfield near Woodstock, which started after a lantern, set off at a nearby birthday celebration
A GP has been suspended from practicing anywhere in the county, NHS Oxfordshire announced today. The trust is currently investigating care provided by Dr Mark Huckstep, who worked at the Kendall Crescent Health Centre and at the Wolvercote
TRAIN services between Oxford, Didcot and London are suffering delays of 30 to 60 minutes this afternoon due to the theft of signal cables near Reading. Engineers are working to repair the damage but services are not expected to be back to normal until
The recent warm weather has boosted the popularity of rental properties with attractive gardens, according to leading agents. Tanya Blake, of Savills, said: “Outdoor space is definitely a key factor at this time of year. The prettier the garden is, the
Three converted Cotswold cottages have been transformed into new homes that combine contemporary gloss with period detail. Long Cottages, which date back to the 18th century, are built of Cotswold stone under a slate roof. A mixture of two- and three-bedroom
Police are appealing for witnesses after three burglaries in the South Oxfordshire area. The first of the burglaries took place between 11am on Thursday and 2.45pm on Sunday, where burglars forced their way into a property in Kennylands Road
Daniel Rowe took a sensational hat-trick as Oxfordshire wrapped up a nine-wicket victory over Herefordshire at Banbury yesterday. Rowe took the last three wickets of the Hereford innings – and four from just nine deliveries on the day – as
Police are appealing for witnesses after a collision in Watlington. At about 9.50am yesterday, a pedestrian in her twenties, was crossing the road near to the Co-operative Store in Couching Street, when she was involved in a collision with a car.
Oxford United are back in the Football League on Saturday - and the Oxford Mail is producing a 24-page supplement tomorrow marking their return. Our special pull-out features interviews with all Chris Wilder's new signings, as well as pieces
Motability is the UK's leading car, powered wheelchair and scooter scheme for disabled people. It provides affordable, convenient, worry-free motoring to around 550,000 disabled customers and their families. Motability allows people to get a brand
A teenager is believed to have shot himself dead while on the phone to police in woods near Witney. Alexander Codrington, 16, was found dead in a wooded area near Leafield shortly before dawn on Friday. The Independent Police Complaints
A GP has been suspended from practising anywhere in the county, NHS Oxfordshire announced today. The trust is investigating care provided by Dr Mark Huckstep, who worked at the Kendall Crescent Health Centre and at the Wolvercote Surgery in Oxford
A PRIEST pushed a 50-tonne train to raise money for his church. Cheered on by his congregation, Fr Edward Carter single-handedly moved the Great Western Railway pannier tank locomotive one-and-a-half times around the turntable at Didcot Railway Centre
A DISABLED man who was born 16 weeks early and weighing only one pound 11 ounces hopes to become a heavyweight TV writer after being selected for a prestigious UK Film Council course. Russell Highsmith, 24, of Thesiger Road, Abingdon, was the lightest
HUNDREDS of festivalgoers enjoyed a combination of cricket, beer and traction engines this weekend. South Oxfordshire was awash with festival-goers enjoying the spirit of summer in North Moreton and nearby Appleford. At Appleford, near
DURING the week, she delivers letters and parcels to homes across Wallingford. But at weekends, Natalie Taylor trains with the 4626 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, preparing to deploy to Afghanistan as a medical reservist, caring for wounded soldiers
A DISABLED journalist who has battled the effects of polio for most of his life inspired young people in Oxfordshire with his life story at the weekend. Dr Ravi Subbaiah spoke at Peachcroft Christian Centre in Abingdon, addressing about 200 people on
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THE sentencing of two men who threatened a pizza delivery driver before stealing food was adjourned yesterday after one failed to show up at Oxford Crown Court. Karl Axtell, of Hailey Road, and Carl Hemmings, of Windrush Valley Road, pleaded
A teenager has pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing Class A drugs. Wakas Khan, 17, of Furlong Close, Oxford, was caught with diamorphine and crack cocaine on June 20 this year. At Oxford Crown Court yesterday, Khan also pleaded guilty to two breaches
FRUSTRATED custom-ers have hit out at BT over repairs to phone lines which have taken more than a week. Hundreds of homes and businesses in Stanton Harcourt and Sutton lost telephone and Internet connections last Monday when 1,600 metres of
A MAN who beat a woman unconscious with a bottle of wine and a brick before stripping her below the waist has been jailed for four years. Paul Simmons, 22, of Pauling Road, Headington, Oxford, launched the attack in March, after going shopping with his
Former Formula One driver Derek Warwick, a steward at the Hungarian Grand Prix, has revealed he wanted to disqualify Michael Schumacher from the race. The Brackley-based Mercedes team veteran received a ten-place grid penalty for the next round
THAMES Valley’s top police officer says communities should take the initiative and step in to tackle antisocial behaviour. Chief Constable Sara Thornton made the comments following Prime Minister David Cameron’s announcement of his ‘Big Society
More than 100 detainees at Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre have gone on hunger strike. They stopped accepting meals last night. It is understood they are protesting over conditions at the Kidlington centre. Jonathan
NEW Fathers 4 Justice activists scaled the roof of David Cameron’s constituency office in Witney yesterday. Shortly after 6.40am, three protesters climbed the building in High Street. The group says its members will keep returning to the town until
A MOTHER has spoken of her disappointment as she faces a three-month wait for the results of an inquest into her son’s death. Former Radley College pupil Luke Bitmead, from Oxford, jumped from a multi-storey car park in October 2006 after discharging
I CANNOT believe what I read in Hugh Jaeger’s letter (Oxford Mail ViewPoints, July 21). He thinks the road and pavement fiasco in Headington was well planned. Not surprising, as he is anti-car, just like our two councils. Everyone I speak to says what
Coming from an ardent supporter of wind turbines, John Tanner’s description of an energy-from-waste facility as a “monstrous blot” (Oxford Mail ViewPoints, July23 ) is pretty rich. However, there is a need to inject some truth into this debate. The
I can often be found fixing, riding or coveting a bicycle. However my main pastime these days is hiring bikes – here’s your bike, here’s your lock and here are some lights so you don’t get in trouble with the local law, I can be found saying daily.
I PREFACE this letter by stating that I have no wish to cause a stir among readers of the Oxford Mail, as this is a sensitive issue. Close friends and I have debated this question, some ex-servicemen, and would like an answer, as one is not readily
IT WAS a nice write-up about the three policemen who are retiring (Oxford Mail, July 24). I think I would like to have served with them. I must say though, that I never heard a colleague say: ‘Ello, ello’ and I used to walk my beat. I don’t know how
I AM sure that many people will agree with Colin Smith’s letter (Oxford Mail Viewpoints, July 22). While walking through Oxford that day, the filth was apparent on every side. The only patch of clean pavement in Cornmarket was outside the Pizza Hut
FOR YEARS I have been campaigning to have traffic signals installed at Heyford Hill roundabout, as I believe it to be Oxford’s most dangerous intersection. Over the past few years, I have been given various excuses by parish and city councillors why
Q My four-year-old cat constantly washes herself to the point of causing sores around her nipples. My vet said that she has very sensitive skin and that conditioning tablets or cod liver oil will help. She hates both. I myself take cod liver oil and evening
“I COULDN’T love anyone more than I loved him – he was the best son in the world.” Those were the words of Odette Godfrey, the mother of 28-year-old Mathew Godfrey, who was killed in a crash on the A41 Bicester Road at Ludgershall, near Bicester. Mr
OCA League Divisions 1-4 SHRIVENHAM went top of Division 1 after they romped to a six-wicket win at Great Horwood on Saturday. Conor Taylor took 5-44 as Horwood were restricted to 163-9. Adam Tucker (49) then led the way to see Shrivenham to 164-4.
More than 100 detainees at Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre have gone on hunger strike. They stopped accepting meals last night. It is understood they are protesting over conditions at the Kidlington centre. Jonathan
OCA League Divisions 5-11 KENNINGTON 2nd’s Norman Robins came close to achieving every bowlers’ dream as he finished with nine wickets during his side’s Division 9 demolition of Chinnor. Spinner Robins took 9-25, including a hat-trick, and could have
Hook Norton 2nd landed the OCA League's Osberton Radiators Cup with a crushing 105-run victory after a terrific performance against Horley 2nd in the final at Wantage on Sunday. Batting first, Hook Norton posted an impressive total of 227-7. Veteran
COUNCILLORS could be forced to review a decision to sign a multi-million pound contract for a waste incinerator. Last week, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet approved a recommendation to agree to sign a 25-year contract with waste firm Viridor to
New signing Danny Philiskirk scored on his debut as he helped Oxford United to a 3-0 win at Banbury United on Monday night. Sam Deering and Mitchell Cole also netted in the U’s pre-season finale. Deering fired in the 15th-minute opener
THE number of bicycles stolen from the streets of Oxford is the highest for five years – and police are calling for more cycle racks to combat the problem. From the start of April last year until the end of March this year, 2,137 bikes were stolen –
The Marks & Spencer store in Queen Street, Oxford, was evacuated yesterday after a staff member smelled burning. Fire engines from Rewley Road fire station were called after they discovered the smell was caused by an overheated light bulb.
Key Stage Two results for schools in Oxfordshire will be published by the Department of Education today. The results will provide provisional information on the achievements of pupils who took the 2010 National Curriculum assessments. There will be
Plans to extend the BMW plant in Cowley will be discussed by Oxford city councillors tomorrow. The car manufacturer wants to extend its body shop facilities to allow a new Mini model to go into production. The proposals will be discussed by the council
CONTROVERSIAL redevelopment plans for Oxford’s ageing Temple Cowley Pools complex will be unveiled at a public meeting this month, before a final decision on its future is made in September. Three multi-million pound options for new swimming facilities
Danny Philliskirk says he is determined to make a big impression during his loan with Oxford United. The 19-year-old Chelsea striker signed on Monday for the U’s on an initial one-month spell. And the forward, who was signed by Jose
Oxfordshire seized the initiative on day two of their Minor Counties Western Division game against Herefordshire at Banbury. Resuming on 146-1, Oxon eased past Herefordshire’s first innings total of 302 to be bowled out for 395 – a lead of 93 – before
