A woman in her 30s fought off a sex attacker. The assault happened in an alleyway between Station Road and Cronshaw Close, Didcot, at about 3.30pm on Monday. Police described the suspect as a ‘stocky’ Asian man in his 20s with chubby cheeks
A NEW website dedicated to helping children make the most of books has been launched. BookSeekers has been set up by Oxford-based husband and wife team Ian Shepherd and Bridget Martindale. The site pulls together a vast range of books for youngsters
POLICE have confirmed they have found a body in the recently disturbed grave in the cemetery of All Saints Church, Didcot. The body is believed to be that of missing teenager Jayden Parkinson, 17. A formal identification has yet to take place
AN accident in London is causing 30 minute delays on trains to and from Oxford. A crane has fallen near to a train line at Ealing Broadway in West London, and British Transport Police have advised First Great Western not to run trains on the line
FATHER-of-three and Greenpeace activist Phil Ball could still face Christmas in St Petersburg despite an amnesty issued by Russia’s parliament. Mr Ball, from Chipping Norton, is one of the so-called Arctic 30 – a team of 28 campaigners and two
Time For Rupert, Banbury trainer Paul Webber’s stable star, is set to make his comeback in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday after recovering from lifesaving surgery. The nine-year-old has not been seen on a racecourse since finishing fourth
TODAY is the last of our series of features on the winners of the second annual staff recognition awards run by the Oxford University Hospitals Trust. Staff and volunteers from the county’s hospitals were shortlisted and awarded gold, silver and bronze
YES - The Rt Rev Colin Fletcher, Bishop of Dorchester FOR many of us, I’m sure, the religious content of Christmas is going to be pretty thin over the next few days. Present buying, card sending, party preparation, television watching (and
Andre Villas-Boas and Steve Clarke are the latest big-name managerial casualties of the season. A year ago, they were being hailed as two of the brightest Premiership managers, but unfortunately both failed to reach their second anniversary in
Police say they have started the difficult process of securing evidence from a grave in All Saints Church in Lydalls Road, Didcot. Detectives gathered at the church last night as they continued their search for the body of missing teenager Jayden
THE A338 from Wantage to Oxford will close for up to six months next year amid fears of “traffic chaos”. From February 10, 11,600 journeys made every day on the road will have to use an alternative route, yet to be decided. The road will be
CRAFTY shoppers can pick up a festive gift at a city art gallery. Oxford Castle’s O3 Gallery, off New Road, has turned over part of its space into a store selling Christmas gifts. Manager Helen Statham said: “It is packed full with interesting
A FATHER-of-three from Chipping Norton who was arrested in Russia is one step closer to being able to return to the UK after he and fellow activists were added to an amnesty bill. Phil Ball, 42, from Chipping Norton, is one of the so-called Arctic
HO HO HO. Tis the season to be jolly. Or so they say. I actually like being jolly but this time of year is one that can easily expose my disability. Take for example decorating the tree or preparing for a party if you live alone, as I do. Let’s
THE Oxford Bus Company is scrapping the 4C Dean Court Bus Service with effect from January 29, 2014. They have not yet had the decency to publish this news, but a local councillor has informed us of their decision. We have one bus per hour
THE campaign to preserve the local, communal nature of Botley’s West Way shopping centre continues apace. We’ve just learned that Doric, the would-be developers, will be submitting revised plans to the Vale of White Horse by this coming Friday, December
MORE than 1,000 cyclists are expected to ride in to Oxford to take part in a new cycling festival. The Bike Oxford event in September aims to promote cycling and attract cyclists to the city. The inaugural festival on Sunday, September 7, will
SEVENTY two million animals – including two million dogs and cats – are killed for their fur every year in China alone. A German film crew investigated this horror story and found that many dogs and cats are still alive when they are skinned. If
I AM writing concerning Wantage and Grove plans. Apart from the major plans on Grove airfield site, the local council seem to think that if they approve lots of small developments, we will not notice and that they need not bother with the necessary
WHILE in rant mode (December 13), might I raise another couple of points about Bicester traffic flow, or non-flow as the case may be? Do our elected representatives ever come out into the town to see what is happening? The new traffic set-up
I WAS extremely sorry to read a letter from one of your correspondents (December 10) describing how her 80-year-old mother was walking along a pavement in the city centre, when she tripped over a drain which had subsided. I have been trying to
A CALL has gone out for volunteers to help community groups in Oxfordshire. Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA) says that community groups in Oxfordshire are not taking advantage of the help and support available to them. It wants
LONDON Welsh captain Tom May is hoping for a Christmas boost from rugby fans in Oxford. Greene King IPA Championship leaders Welsh host London Scottish in the battle of the Exiles at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday (5pm). And May hopes his side
OXFORD City Council is not backwards in coming forwards and it is no surprise it is planning to make some strong representations over the plan to demolish and rebuild West Way. Botley is, of course, not within its borders and some may question,
WHILE planting an airport in the middle of Oxfordshire was always a barmy idea, it was still a relief to see the mandarins overseeing such schemes were exhibiting common sense. You wonder why anyone put any serious effort and expense into suggesting
THE search for missing Tom Billings in Vancouver continued last night. The former Cokethorpe and d’Overbroeck’s pupil, from Boars Hill, was last seen on November 25 before he set out on a hike, police believe. He was visiting Canada after graduating
A HEAD chef who vented his anger on Twitter after being sacked from an Oxfordshire pub has landed another job. After his posts were retweeted by thousands, it emerged on the social media site that Jim Knight has been offered a job by The Shepherd
CAMPAIGNERS have reacted angrily after the county council extended a consultation into changing parents’ free transport-to-school entitlement. Oxon School Bus Action Group (OSBAG) said the extension, from Friday until January 14, prolongs the uncertainty
A bus driver was robbed of £170 at gunpoint by a man who boarded a double decker Stagecoach bus at The Oval in Rose Hill shortly after 6.30pm on Monday. Police, who described the suspect as mid-20s, of mixed race and 5ft 9ins tall, said he pointed
Government officials have agreed to foot half the £10m bill for planned improvements to the Chilton interchange on the A34. The Department of Transport has agreed to give £5m to Oxfordshire County Council as part of the local authority’s plan to
POLICE hunting for missing teenager Jayden Parkinson are expected to start searching a grave in Didcot today. Detectives received a new tip-off yesterday afternoon that led them to a specific part of the cemetery at All Saints Church in Lydalls
THE Oxford landmarks are familiar, but the naked rugby players are definitely not. Commuters and tourists were surprised by the sight of the Oxford University rugby team stripping off their kit to pose for a charity calendar. The players braved
OXFORD City Council has weighed into the row over a £100m redevelopment in its backyard. The authority has said the development of Botley’s West Way shopping centre would be too big and generate too much traffic, saying there is “no justification
THEIR remains have been undisturbed for hundreds of years. But today the skeletons of what are thought to have been Wallingford’s earliest residents will be reburied. The remains of more than 500 people dating back to the 900s were discovered next
SIX people have been arrested after a series of coordinated raids in Oxford and other parts of the country. At around 6.30am yesterday, Thames Valley Police officers carried out warrants for 16 addresses with the Metropolitan Police Service in
The Division 1 title race in the Critchleys UTV League was blown wide open as league leaders Freeland Yeoman fell to their first defeat of the season at home to second-placed Iffley Harriers, writes DARYL RIDGLEY. Harriers won 3-1 thanks to a brace
A High Court bid to stop an out-of-town retail park has failed. A judge yesterday upheld Cherwell District Council’s decision to approve the Banbury Gateway scheme beside the M40 junction in March last year. The owners of Castle Quay and Banbury
A CONMAN who pretended to collect donations for cancer sufferers has been given a suspended jail sentence. David Solomon, pictured, of Kimmeridge Road, Cumnor, told businesses he was doing a walk to raise money for non-existent charity Cancer Relations
NINE-MAN Berinsfield pulled off a stunning win as they continued to defend their Oxfordshire Intermediate Cup trophy. They ousted Midland Combination Res Division 1 side Banbury United Res 3-2 – coming from behind twice – after extra time.
A TEENAGER has been arrested after a burglar opened an unlocked front door at a house in Witney and stole a handbag from the hallway. The crime happened in Davenport Road between 10am and 3pm on Sunday. A 19-year-old has been arrested on suspicion
A burglar ran off after a homeowner in Kidlington heard them smash a pane of glass. The break-in happened in Church Street at about 3.15pm on December 10. Police yesterday described the suspect as a white man, aged between 45 and 50, and said he
OXFORDSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE JAMES Watkins’s brace helped Mansfield Road maintain their Premier Division title bid with a 4-0 victory at Adderbury Park. Park had Mark Essex and James Trevitt sent off for second bookings when the visitors were
POLICE officers are this morning still at a graveyard in Didcot as part of the search for missing teenager Jayden Parkinson. Detectives received a tip-off yesterday that led them to a specific part of the cemetery at All Saints Church in Lydalls
PEOPLE can find out more about the history of Oxford in a new book launched by the Oxford Preservation Trust. Heritage Walks — on foot from Oxford Castle to St Giles was written by historian Malcolm Graham with illustrations by former conservation
CAMPAIGNERS have reacted angrily after the county council extended a consultation into changing parents’ free transport-to-school entitlement. Oxon School Bus Action Group (OSBAG) said the extension, from Friday until January 14, prolongs the uncertainty
FOR many years Dorchester was a dormant footballing village, writes MATTHEW BRUCE. Following the closure of the community’s previous club in the late 1990s, it was without any organised football, despite boasting highly-active cricket and tennis
Tower Hill saw off Milton Keynes City 3-1 in the Southern Women’s League Division 1 on Sunday. The home side started well, going ahead after eight minutes when a corner from Lisa Freeman was put away by Nicola Ace. On the hour, the visitors
Det Ch Supt Richard List has been appointed as the new head of Thames Valley Police’s force intelligence and specialist operations unit. He will be responsible for the serious and organised crime unit, the economic crime unit and firearms licensing
Oxfordshire's boys bowed out of the ESFA Under 16 Inter County Trophy with a 2-1 defeat by West Midlands in the second round at Ardley United. Oxon goalkeeper Eddie Cav-iezel-Cox made a brave save to deny Ethan Jones when he raced clean through
A goal three minutes into stoppage time condemned North Leigh to a 2-1 defeat away to Shortwood United in last night’s Calor League Division 1 South & West fixture. Duncan Culley had fired the home side into a 16th-minute lead, which they held
OXFORD University scrum half Sam Egerton has been handed a 15-week suspension by the Rugby Football Union. At a meeting of the disciplinary panel in Coventry last night, Egerton pleaded guilty to a charge of making contact with the eye(s) or eye
A burglar got inside a Botley home through a window and stole electrical goods. The crime happened in Pinnocks Way between 12.30pm and 11.15pm on Sunday. Call police on 101 with any information.
North Leigh Under 14s formed the guard of honour at Queens Park Rangers’ recent Sky Bet Championship game against Blackburn Rovers at Loftus Road. They applauded the teams on to the pitch after being invited by QPR and Caterham F1 owner Tony Fernandes
A POPULAR DJ was found dead in his bed by a housemate, an inquest has heard. Matthew Willams was known by his stage name of Matt G-netic around the Oxford area and in the 1990s at Destiny club events in Bournemouth. After his death, tributes
CHRISTMAS shopping is stressful enough without having to think about wrapping your presents. But shoppers at the Westgate Centre in Oxford can get some welcome relief for the third year running. Volunteers are wrapping gifts in exchange for
TWO plans to build an airport near Abingdon have been rejected by a Government commission. But the site, south of Marcham and north of the Hanneys, could still be required for a reservoir by Thames Water. Yesterday as the Airports Commission
WITNEY’S Post Office will close on March 12, bosses have revealed. The Post Office has decided to go ahead with a plan, previously revealed by the Oxford Mail, to move the service into the WH Smith branch in Market Square. It comes after a
SAM Gould showed nerves of steel to fire Crowmarsh Youth into the second round of the Oxford Mail Youth League Under 13 Knockout Cup with a last-minute penalty to beat Greater Leys Kites 3-2. The match appeared destined for extra-time after Crowmarsh
GILES SPORTS WITNEY YOUTH LEAGUE Declan O’Brien fired a five-timer as Bampton Town Youth won 5-1 at home to Bloxham in the Under 10 Red League. Ted Allen replied for the visitors, but it was in vain. Josh Howell netted a quick-fire double
Quarry Rovers went top of the Under 11 league after a 9-1 win at home to Kidlington. Damini Bhagat led the way with four goals with strikes from Amy Gillett, Shola Enwonwu, Natalia Sved, Sofia Garrard and Gabrielle Crook. Emily Elston was on
IT WAS almost a sell-out screening at yesterday’s showing of The Great Gatsby, the second in a series of films being shown to celebrate this year’s Oxford Mail Senior Citizens Film Festival. Now in it’s eighth year, the Phoenix Picturehouse cinema
A TRADITIONAL red telephone box in Headington looks to have been saved after a community campaign to stop it from being moved. Residents of Old Headington became aware that BT was planning to remove the phone box because it was not being used and
WHEN Mick Addinall first started showing his portraits in Oxford, they were mistaken for photographs, and you can see why. It was a mistake he was happy for people to make. The tattooist turned fine artist had been drawing portraits all his
Listen to the full police briefing at All Saints Church
OXFORD United Under 18s pulled off one of their finest results by winning 3-1 away to Swansea City in last night’s FA Youth Cup third-round tie at Llanelli FC. And they did it the hard way after going behind and having goalkeeper Barney Martin
