BICESTER: A burglar with a “large stomach” snatched cash out of an elderly man’s wallet. Police said the victim invited the thief into his Buckingham Road home on Thursday at 7.55pm as he recognised him as a tree surgeon who had done work for him
MORE than 1,500 homes were left without electricity in West Oxfordshire for up to seven hours due to a power cut. The power cut, at about 10.30pm on Monday, which affected parts of Witney, New Yatt and North Leigh, was caused by a fault in an underground
Bank holidays, we all love them as they allow us a long weekend, whether that’s a lie in or a trip away. This weekend I went to the Edinburgh fringe festival. It’s the biggest arts festival in the world with something in the region of 2,000 shows
DUNMORE Road in Abingdon has now reopened after a crash involving a car and a van. The road was closed both ways after the accident between Langley Road and Oxford Road/Twelve Acre Drive took place at around 4.40pm. Three people have been
The Westgate Alliance is expected to submit an outline planning application in the autumn, followed by a full application next year. Work on the project, which will include a new underground car park, a John Lewis department store and housing,
BY 2020, three of the biggest developments of Oxford’s history will be completed in the west end of the city, rounding off almost £1bn of investment. A £400m new Westgate shopping centre, a revamped Oxpens area with flats, offices, research space
RESIDENTS will have a chance in October to say whether they want to see a neighbourhood plan devised for North Hinksey. A public meeting for residents to discuss the pros and cons of creating a neighbourhood plan is being organised by North Hinksey
REFRESH Café is welcoming groups to book in workshops that encourage young people not to turn to crime. The charity café in Cowley Road, which is part-run by ex-criminals, is one of dozens of organisations around the county that has received funding
UP to 300 people are expected to turn out for the free annual Headington beer festival. The Masons Arms, in Quarry Road Place, will showcase 45 real ales and 15 ciders at the event, which runs from Friday, September 6 to Sunday, September 8.
FEAST your eyes on this: residents of an Oxfordshire market town are hoping to transform it into a walk-through buffet. Faringdon Free Food has already planted fruit trees, herbs and edible flowers in their town centre, but they want to more.
ONLY a few years ago Tabatha Welham was one of the children hanging out at Kennington Youth Club. But when Ms Welham, now 21, returns in a few weeks time, it will be as the new youth leader. Since former youth leader Alice Dore stepped down
CALLS have been made to add homes to a planned business park expansion after figures revealed 259 villagers are waiting for housing. Kidlington Parish Council vice-chairman David Robey said the waiting list showed how desperate was the need for
A CLUBHOUSE is being spruced up this summer as part of a £6,000 refurbishment. Littlemore Rugby Club received £3,000 from the Rugby Football Union, which was match-funded from the club’s own funds to refurbish the interior of their club house in the
ESTATE residents are being urged to come and meet their neighbours at the Barton Bash this weekend. The estate’s annual fun day on Saturday will see the Barton Neighbourhood Centre filled with free activities. Sue Holden, secretary of the Barton
THE fate of Oxford Stadium hangs in the balance, but a group which still uses it says it intends to expand. Performance troupe Dance Connection wants to create an extra studio inside the premises, which it rents from R&R Frontline Services.
IT’S not just about the bike. It’s about the accessories as well. As when dressing for a night out or a special event, the outfit has to be smart, just right, even sexy for some, but the accessories have to get a good amount of consideration as well
I AM writing to convey my concern over the events in Egypt, and the fact that last week the Muslim Brotherhood destroyed over 57 Christian churches and businesses and killed many Christians, simply because they were Christians. I accept that our
I AM responding to David Nimmo-Smith’s article regarding improvements to cycle routes in Oxford. I make most of my journeys are by bicycle. I also ride a motorcycle as well as driving my car when necessary. As a cyclist, the thing I find most endangering
BEING disabled, a visit to the new Sainsbury’s store in Bicester was a disappointing venture. On entry to the car park on level one, above the store, an electronic display informed us that there were 10 disabled parking bays free. So we parked
DAVID Cameron’s assertion that giving 12 billion a year in foreign aid will prevent terrorism and migration to the UK is nonsense. This is proved by history. England’s rulers gave the Danes money each year so the Danes would not invade England.
EACH year a vehicle owner will receive a reminder, from Swansea, to renew their vehicle licence for six or 12 months. It states very clearly at the top of the V11 form renewal reminder to get a tax disc, and if one should decide to pay online the
HAVING welcomed visitors at Christ Church Cathedral Oxford for many years, I was sorry to read Angie Bell’s letter (August 23) and to hear that she had had a bad experience when visiting with a Japanese group. Firstly, I would like to apologise
WELL it hasn’t taken long to discover the results of irresponsible decision-making regarding building expansion. Planning departments haven’t taken responsibility to ensure the provision of the additional necessary facilities to meet the needs
A CHARITY which helps refugees who seek asylum in Oxford has said it needs £40,000 to offer support to women. Refugee Resource has suffered from cuts and in 2011/12 the Cowley Road-based charity received only half of the public sector funding of
Wantage Town beat Highworth 3-1 at home to go top of the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division, with goals from Matt Pedder, Andy Younie and Stuart Cattell. TJ Bohane replied. Abingdon Town fought back to draw 1-1 at Ardley United. Ryan
CALLS have been made for more housing to be included in a major redevelopment in central Oxford. Oxford City Council is planning to redevelop the Oxpens site between the Westgate Centre and the River Thames, which is seen as one of the most significant
Banbury United put on a disappointing display as they were well beaten 3-0 by Hemel Hempstead Town in yesterday’s Premier Division clash at Spencer Stadium. It was the Puritans second defeat in a row. The hosts went behind early on when Dave
RESIDENTS are being asked for their views on who should get help to pay council tax. Vale of White Horse District Council is holding an eight-week public consultation to find out what people think of proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction
A man accused of attempting to murder a former pupil of King Alfred’s School, Wantage, is due at Birmingham Crown Court tomorrow. Mohamoud Elmi, 32, of Ward End Hall Grove, Washwood Heath, Birmingham, is accused of attempting to murder West Midlands
HE’S worked with five vicars, played for countless choristers and watched hundreds of weddings, but now all eyes are on a church’s longstanding organist. It’s been 40 years since Andrew Dyer first sat down to play the organ for the St Michael’s
Stuart Hole scored the winner as North Leigh bounced back from two straight defeats with a 2-1 victory in yesterday’s Calor League Division 1 South & West derby. The result moved the Millers to tenth and saw Didcot slip to second-bottom.
A BLACKBIRD Leys youth football club is going from strength to strength, say organisers. Residents turned out in force at the weekend to help Blackbird Leys FC continue its good work with the estate’s youngsters. Sunday’s fun day event included
MORE than 700 hospital staff in Oxfordshire, including nurses and doctors, are on controversial zero hours contracts. UNISON wants to ban the contracts, which give no guarantees of work from week to week. But a nursing union and patient group
VOLUNTEERS lent a hand to help to keep the county’s 3,000-year-old white horse bright and clean. The National Trust asked for people to come and help chalk the ancient figure on White Horse Hill near Uffington. Volunteers were also asked to
TWO men arrested after a shooting in Blackbird Leys are due to answer bail tomorrow. A woman suffered a gunshot wound to her shoulder during the incident in Crowberry Road on July 27. The men, aged 28 and 31, both from Oxford, were arrested on
A 19-year-old man from Bicester has been reported to court after a motorist crashed into a house and drove off. Pensioners John and Maureen Baker, of Chaucer Close, were woken when a car smashed through their fence and into their conservatory late
A NEW watchdog is still searching for people to join a board that will hold health and social care bosses to account. Healthwatch Oxfordshire formed earlier this year four posts remain vacant because not enough people stood for election. Nearly
AN AIR weapon has been recovered after armed police were called to Palmer Road, Faringdon, on Sunday. A 22-year-old man arrested on suspicion of driving without insurance; driving without a licence; possession of a firearm with intent to cause
A GATHERING of classic cars were on display at the eighth annual Blenheim Palace Festival of Transport over the bank holiday weekend. It featured more than 350 classic cars from a range of manufacturers including Morris, Rover and Humber. The
AN OXFORD MP is today launching a campaign to better protect children from sex abusers following the Operation Bullfinch trial. Nicola Blackwood, MP for Oxford West & Abingdon, is calling for changes in the law to tackle child sex exploitation
FIREFIGHTERS have tackled a house blaze in Banbury that started in the kitchen. The fire broke out in a home in Broughton Road at 7.45pm on Sunday and fire engines from Banbury and Hook Norton were sent. Crews used breathing equipment to get
ANYONE who has read our coverage of the Bullfinch child sex case in the last year will know how horrendous the abuse was. The ordeals these girls went through were beyond imagination, and nothing can be done to change that. Ultimately the seven
Charlie Brooks sent out Hopstrings from his Sarsden stables, near Chipping Norton, to win at Bangor yesterday. Sent off the 6-4 favourite, the five-year-old mare stayed on well under Wayne Hutchinson to beat Swift Escape by five lengths in a maiden
Oxford's Andy Triggs Hodge said there was more to come after Great Britain’s men’s eight reached Sunday’s World Championship final in Chungju, South Korea. Triggs Hodge, whose crew, stroked by Henley’s Will Satch, beat USA to win their heat in
Oxford United top-scorer Deane Smalley will be fit to return this weekend after he was rested as a precaution on Saturday. The striker, who has three goals in three league appearances this season, had a tight hamstring and was not risked for the
London Welsh 16, Llanelli Scarlets 16 CRAIG Price’s last-gasp converted try salvaged a draw for Llanelli Scarlets at the Kassam Stadium in a game that London Welsh had led 13-3. Josh Lewis added the extras from in front of the posts to level
LONDON Welsh head coach Justin Burnell demanded greater consistency and focus from his players after their 16-16 draw with Llanelli Scarlets. Burnell was frustrated to concede a last-gasp converted try after the Exiles had spurned several scoring
Shoppers were serenaded in the street by chart-topping singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner. Between 300 and 400 people gathered at the Woolgate Shopping Centre yesterday afternoon to hear the Surrey singer perform songs old and new. It was part
Oxford City 0 Brackley Tn 1 (Diggin 76) Oxford City dropped into the Skrill North bottom three with a 1-0 defeat at home to local rivals Brackley Town, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. There had been little to separate the two sides when Steve
IT has taken more than a year of complaints and campaigning. But one man’s fight to change how tourism bosses promote tours in the city has paid off. Oxford’s Mad Hatter tour guide Alasdair de Voil is celebrating after persuading Visit Oxfordshire
Oxford City manager Mike Ford believes his side haven’t got the results their performances have deserved so far this season, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. City are still yet to win a game this season after being beaten 1-0 at home by local rivals Brackley
GUESTS at the Victoria House Hotel, Oxford, were evacuated when a fire broke out at a nearby hairdressers. Twenty-two people had to leave their rooms at 4.30am yesterday when smoke from Toni and Guy hairdressers in George Street entered the hotel
A YARNTON helicopter pilot has been hailed a hero in his adopted American home after saving families from a wildfire. Flight instructor Jay Bunning was taking a student on a night flight when they saw a big blaze spreading towards homes in the
JASON Plato benefitted from two of misfortune elsewhere during the final race at Knockhill to boost hopes of climbing the British Touring Car Championship standings before the end of the season. Fourth and seventh-placed finishes in the first two
IT was nail-biting stuff at Bampton’s annual Donkey Derby when one rider clung to the side of his donkey. William Miller, nine, said he was “scared” of breaking a bone at the event yesterday before finishing second in one of the eight races.
If ever there was a case of “right place, right time”, it’s the story of Jay Bunning.The former Malborough School pupil showed quick thinking as he hovered above the city of Bend in Oregon. Everyone hopes to have a guardian angel – they just don
SHAW GIBBS OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE KO Cup Witney Lakes 1, Drayton Park 2 (Witney scores first): S Putt & A Aston lost to N Elmey & H Wilkinson 2 holes, N Clayton & T Edmunds lost to A Elmey & D Boulton 1 hole, M Tyler &
DRAYTON Park and Tadmarton Heath booked their places in the last four of the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League Knock-out Cup. Section 1 leaders Heath made light work of their quarter-final at home to Badgemore Park, of Section 4. None
FERGUS Walkinshaw bounced back from a slow start to deliver one of his best performances of the Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup season at Knockhill. The 22-year-old was forced to make an unscheduled pit stop after runnning wide in race one, dropping
WILL and Sally Ayres both had two reasons to celebrate after a memorable few days for the siblings at Frilford Heath. Will was in fine form to take the Challenor Rose Bowl with an impressive 79 points, seven clear of Josh Davies. The 19-handicapper
Sir – On Tuesday, August 13, an armed robbery took place in the family-run shop in the village of Wolvercote. As one of the shop’s regular customers, I feel really sorry for the hard-working family with young children who were subjected to this
Sir – I am very happy for Christopher Gray (Gray Matter, August 15). He lives close to Oxford station, travels off-peak, and plans his trips online well in advance. However, the train, the fares and the relative inaccessibility of Oxford station
Sir – Reports that the county council is considering outsourcing the county music service will be received with a mixture of incredulity and horror by the thousands of pupils, and their parents, receiving instrumental tuition in schools, music schools
Sir – In response to your article on the Wolvercote Mill site, (August 8), the traffic problem is minor to what we at Lower Wolvercote will have to endure. First, the canal/railway bridge is in desperate need of repair or strengthening before all
Sir – This week someone has finally noticed that people are leaving unsightly bins all over the place. Now they have decided that they have to have somewhere to put them, how are they going to make the people use the facility? I live on the Waterways
Sir – A two-week wait for food collection seems to create a breeding ground for maggots in brown bins at this time of the year. What is one to do? Bleach them? Salt them? Or leave a nasty wriggling mess for collection by the hapless council staff?
Sir – Can anyone help me? Does this county still have bye-laws? I ask as I am totally fed up with people lighting bonfires during the day. I live in a relatively ‘nice’ area but am constantly surprised and angered by the number of people who think
Sir – Your front page (August 15) tells us the new Westgate car park could serve as a flood water reservoir because of the growing danger of extreme flood events. But your lead letter from a correspondent in Woodstock still claims that climate change
Sir – John Tanner would have us believe that Labour Party energy policy is against fracking (Letters, August 8). Unfortunately this is not the case. The political party he represents had 10 years in Government to show us their real commitment to
Sir – John Tanner should get his head out of the clouds and face reality; Oxford would be far ‘Cleaner and Greener’ if the buses were cleaned up and reduced in number. His ‘pie in the sky’ electric car proposals are a diversion away from the immediate
Sir – I believe John Nandris is not an architect but must be congratulated on his capture of the language of architects in praising the proposed development at St Cross College (Letters, August 15). He identifies logic in the interlocking crosses
Sir – Past and present members of St Cross College will, I’m sure, be grateful to John Nandris of Merton for his fulsome praise for St Cross’s proposed new development (Letters, August 15). Perhaps the opposition who think it “horrid because of
Sir – We wish to draw your readers’ attention to a planning application by a Devon-based developer to build a three-storey house at the southern end of Middle Way, Summertown, (Oxford City Council ref 13/01886/FUL, 7 Middle Way). We feel that the
ASir – So now, thanks to Ken Weavers (Letters, August 8), we have an ABC of Creation! Creator C created creator B who created creator A, who created the universe with our and all the other innumerable galaxies, our star, the sun and all the hundred
Sir – I was interested to read the article in your sister paper the Oxford Mail, about the new assistant head custodian, Debbie, at Christ Church. They never fail to give us a great welcome, and some of the veteran custodians Bill and Ferdie are
Sir – Your restaurant critic, Christopher Gray and his companion recently spent £69 each on their three-course dinner (wine not included) at an elegant hotel in the Cotswolds: a meal which he described (Weekend, August 15) as “luxury you can afford
