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A CHURCH in Blackbird Leys is one step closer to necessary renovations thanks to a donation from a local business. Deltys, the Nisa shop in Blackbird Leys Road, has donated £500 towards replacing electrical wiring throughout the building of the

A COMMUNITY art gallery has sprung up to exhibit the work of West Oxford residents. The new Botley Community Art Gallery is displaying 20 pieces of art throughout February at a shop in Elms Parade. Work includes pottery, oil paintings, tapestries

THREE generations of his family have lived or worked in Magdalen Road and now Dan Steel is taking on his own responsibility for the area. Mr Steel has been appointed as the new Magdalen Road Church leader and hopes to build on the community legacy

FREE long-stay parking in the village centre has become a nightmare because of new park-and-ride charges, residents and workers have said. They say commuters are parking at Curtis Place and getting a bus into Oxford to avoid the new charges at

A PAIR of former Oxford United players were on target as a fired-up Newport County brought an end to the last remaining unbeaten away record in English league football. Ryan Burge and Chris Zebroski struck in the final 20 minutes to inflict United's

A CHARITY that supports brain injury victims and their carers is hoping to raise £200,000 to update its centre. Headway Oxfordshire, based in Bagley Wood Road, Kennington, wants to increase its capacity to deal with the rising number of people

A CHARITY that supports brain injury victims and their carers is hoping to raise £200,000 to update its centre. Headway Oxfordshire, based in Bagley Wood Road, Kennington, wants to increase its capacity to deal with the rising number of people

8:02pm GOAL! #newportcounty 0 #oufc 1 (Constable 14) Bang! First time Utd get forward Kitson crosses for Beano, who lashes in goal No 105. — @OxfordMailOUFC 18 February 2014

THE Oxford International Women’s Festival (OIWF) began in 1990 with a meeting between women from local community groups and the trades council. A quarter of a century on, the two-week event now has the honour of being the country’s longest annual

FIRST Great Western, the train company which runs services through Oxfordshire, has been given one of the lowest ratings for customer satisfaction, a new survey reveals. The company, which runs trains along the Great Western main line, was given

Oxford United's trip to Newport County is on after passing a precautionary pitch inspection at lunchtime. The Welsh club have had big problems with their drainage in recent weeks, with six of the last seven home fixtures postponed. There were

A “VULNERABLE’’ man with learning difficulties was raped at Oxford Railway Station by a drunk clubber, a jury heard yesterday. Daniel Allen, of Fleetham Gardens, Reading, has gone on trial at Oxford Crown Court charged with carrying out the offences

KEEPING the children entertained during half term is always a struggle, but this weekend saw the holiday start with a doodle show for families in Didcot. On Sunday, the Cornerstone Arts Centre hosted a one-off performance of comedy show Little

THE recent Bee Summit organised by the Friends of the Earth at the Natural History Museum focused on the steady decline in the bee population and the phenomenon known as Bee Colony Collapse. Bees pollinate the plants we eat and without them billions

A CONSERVATIONIST who has launched his own campaign to save the tiger is preparing to take his fight global. Simon Clinton says his love of tigers dates back to his childhood in Malaysia but he has only recently begun campaigning to save the endangered

THE county council will decide today (February 18) whether to cut the Oxfordshire Support Fund. If they do so, those Oxfordshire residents who find themselves in an urgent financial crisis will have nowhere to turn for help, the last safety net will

IN the many consultation processes we have been asked to complete for Abingdon Planning department to enliven the shopping precinct, the suggestion has been to have it where Woolworths was situated. Abingdon plays host to seven senior schools,

Having made occasional use of the excellent bus service which operates between Oxford city centre and the John Radcliffe, I expected a similar service to operate to and from the Churchill Hospital. But sadly, not so. In the publication Information

IN mid-December, I wrote concerning the proposed West Way development for Botley to: Matthew Barber (leader of Vale of White Horse Council; Eric Batts (on both VOWH and North Hinksey parish councils); Mike Badcock (VOWH chairman); Matt Prosser (VOWH

THE local authorities and developers are going to have to find another ruse to fool locals that the Barton West development is a sound provision. The recent announcement of extra funding to hasten the build and the announcement (February 7) that

9:46pm FLOOD warnings have been lifted tonight on the River Thames from Buscot Wick to Shifford in West Oxfordshire and from Days Lock to South Stoke in South Oxfordshire, including Dorchester and Wallingford. Both these

THE driver of a car involved in the crash that killed a cyclist on the outskirts of Oxford yesterday has been released on police bail. The 56-year-old cyclist was died at the scene of the accident in Watlington Road following a collision with a

A few years ago, a mate of mine who works in advertising took it upon himself to produce some Cyclox-branded cycling adverts. He’s a creative director, the one who sits there with the copywriter and comes up with the images – profound or profane –

The Oxford Mail has kindly given me this fresh opportunity to again contribute a regular monthly column about the everyday challenges of living with an incurable cancer. I am keen to do this for a number of reasons, the main one being that since

AS is traditional at this time of year, and in tribute to a former landlady of the now defunct Grandpont Arms, a large number of combatants in the winter quiz leagues gathered at a variety of venues across the county last week to compete for the Mary

WUON-GEAN Ho will be laughing herself horse all the way to the bank this year. The Oxford-born artist designed this equestrian-themed coin which celebrates the Chinese year of the horse in 2014, for the Royal Mint. And she will be designing

A small fire at an Oxford University research lab was tackled by about 25 firefighters yesterday. About 40 students and academics were evacuated from the Southwell Building for thermofluids research in Ferry Hinksey Road at about 5.15pm.

The new Mini is to be built in Holland as well as Oxford, owner BMW has announced. Production of the Mini Hatch will be split from the summer between the Cowley factory and a plant in Nedcar near the German border run by BMW’s Dutch partner VDL

Three hundred properties in the Boars Hill area were without power for four hours yesterday after a workman digging up the road accidentally struck an underground cable. Power was restored at about 3.30pm.

Clothing store Next is offering a £10,000 reward to anyone who can help staff catch the man who dressed as Santa to rob its Cowley branch. The knife-wielding robber threatened staff at the Oxford Retail Park store on December 23 before fleeing

3:02pm Green councillor Sam Coates said: "I want to make the case for living in a society where people care about each other. "A more humane society is something worth paying for." 2:56pm

WILLIAM Blencowe, 20, has appeared at Oxford Magistrates' Court, this morning charged with murdering 17-year-old Connor Tremble (pictured).  Blencowe of Oxford Road, Banbury, spoke only to confirm his name and address.  He was charged with

A CYCLIST was killed yesterday on a stretch of road described by neighbours as lethal. A 39-year-old man was last night being questioned by police following the 56-year-old cyclist’s death on Watlington Road near Garsington early yesterday morning

IT MUST be of concern that Network Rail has seemingly thrown its published plan for major rebuilding of 28 bridges across the county “out the window”. The company has a £1bn project to electrify the Great Western mainline for faster and larger

Mickey Lewis has warned his Oxford United side they face their toughest test of the season at Newport County tonight (7.45). Although the Exiles are tenth in Sky Bet League Two, having lost four of their last six games, they have won seven of their

THE timetable for a rail scheme that could cause months of disruption for the county’s motorists has been scrapped. Network Rail has said a schedule it gave for rebuilding 28 bridges in the county is “out the window” after it admitted the original

A 20-YEAR-OLD man will appear in court this morning accused of murdering Connor Tremble. William Blencowe was charged by detectives last night with killing 17-year-old Connor, after he was found critically injured at his flat in Fairacres Road,

CHILDREN have celebrated the start of the half-term school holiday by making puppets of dinosaurs. The Museum of Natural History, in Parks Road, Oxford, held activities for families yesterday after reopening at the weekend. Christopher Petersen

Oxford United’s former Newport County midfielder, Danny Rose, will put friendships on hold when the sides battle it out at Rodney Parade tonight. Rose, 25, made 149 appearances for the Exiles, scoring 36 goals in a three-and-a-half year spell and

The southbound carriageway of the M40 was closed yesterday morning after a van overturned. Thames Valley Police was called to junction eight of the M40 at 7.09am. The van overturned in lane two but all three lanes of the motorway were closed

COUNCILLORS have unanimously approved plans which would allow London Welsh to move to Witney. Despite an objection from Sport England over the loss of two football pitches, the committee at West Oxfordshire District Council yesterday supported

CAMPAIGNERS packed a meeting yesterday to object to a plan for 160 homes being built in Bampton. But councillors at the West Oxfordshire District Council meeting ruled to defer the decision until a site visit had been carried out. The proposal

Oxford Hawks eased any lingering relegation concerns by coming from behind to win 3-1 at home to struggling Sutton Valence in South League Premier 1 on Saturday. The visitors edged ahead against the run of play from a penalty flick after a stick-tackle

Witney gained a hard-fought point from a 3-3 draw at home to Banbury to go second in the South Ladies Hockey League 3A. However, the hosts were left to rue losing a 3-1 half-time lead. Banbury started the game at pace, creating several chances

North Leigh may be forced to postpone tonight’s Calor League Division 1 South & West home game with Thatcham Town due to a floodlight problem. Although the pitch is heavy but playable, high winds have twisted one of the floodlights around,

Terry Biddlecombe, who died at his West Lockinge home, near Wantage, last month, is to have this year’s National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival run in his honour. The news was announced by ex-Cheltenham managing director Edward Gillespie

Former Oxford University lecturer Richard Dawkins will address the city’s famous debating society today to talk about his life as an evolutionary biologist. The Oxford resident and best-selling author is vice president of the British Humanist Association

A TEENAGER has gone on trial accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl twice in Oxford. Ashley Clare, of Colemans Hill, Headington, denies committing two counts of sexual assault on Saturday, August 3 last year. The 19-year-old is alleged

A JURY at Oxford Crown Court has retired to consider its verdict in the trial of a 20-year-old accused of having underage sex with two teenage girls. Former young boxer Clinton Townsend, of Field Assarts, near Leafield, West Oxfordshire, denies

Two men and a teenage boy have been arrested after an attempted knife-point robbery at the Local Stop off-licence in Abingdon last month. The suspects, aged 16, 19, and 20, were arrested following the incident in Ock Street on January 24. They

TRAIN fans enjoyed Didcot Railway Centre’s first full steam weekend of 2014. Despite the rain, passengers flocked along on Saturday. Peter Bristow, 76, from Berkhamstead, guided a 75-year-old Pannier 3650 steam engine up and down the centre’s track

Luggage, cash and jewellery were stolen after burglars got inside a Kidlington home after breaking the window. It happened in Chorefields between 8am and 5.15pm on Monday last week but Thames Valley Police only released the details yesterday.

PARKINSON’S Disease sufferer Alex Flynn is hoping that rowing half way across the Pacific Ocean will help scientists discover more about how sufferers cope with physical and mental stress. Mr Flynn and Darren Taylor are to undertake the California

Oxford University’s fixture against Crawshay’s Welsh XV at Iffley Road tomorrow has been cancelled because of a waterlogged pitch. The Dark Blues’ next fixture will be against the Penguin International XV at Iffley Road on Wednesday, February 26

HAVING worked on numerous box office hits such as Slumdog Millionaire, you would think sound engineer and mixer Niv Adiri would be used to the limelight. But the 39-year-old from Howe Close, Wheatley, has spoken of his nerves before it was announced

RICHARD Hawkins, the lock-keeper who has saved two people from flood waters over the past few days, may not view himself as a hero, necessarily. He believes he reacted as anyone would when someone is in trouble. To a certain extent he is right

OXFORDSHIRE remains on medium alert for flooding despite a number of warnings being dropped yesterday. The Environment Agency said there were seven warnings in place across the county including Kennington, Binsey, Osney, Abingdon, Clifton Hampden

A LOCK-KEEPER who could lose his job later this year has been praised for saving two people from flood waters in recent weeks. On Saturday Richard Hawkins, 26, from Abingdon, helped stop a boat from sinking when it came loose from its moorings

BOTH Henley and Chinnor were beaten by the weather on Saturday. Henley Hawks’ National League 1 fixture against Blaydon was postponed because their Dry Leas ground was under water, while Chinnor’s National 2 game at home to Clifton was also off

FULL back Will Hilton notched a personal tally of 17 points as Oxford Harlequins thrashed lowly Buckingham 52-13 in South West 1 East at home on Saturday. The victory, Quins’ 17th in 18 matches, saw them pass the 700 points mark for the season.

Holders Rileys were given a run for their money away to Section 1 Berinsfield Community Centre in the Greene King ODDA Seven-a-side Cup. The Premier side edged home 4-3 to book their place in the last eight. The all-Premier clash between Black

Kirtlington GC’s senior members have been excelling themselves in the last few weeks with no fewer than three holes-in-one on full greens. Mike Price aced the par-three ninth hole in a Stableford, while Reg Mitchell acheived the feat at the par-three

Second-placed Bicester’s outside hopes of catching Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier leaders Tadley vanished inside 40 minutes of their top-of-the-table clash. The home side, who finished 23-3 victors, built up an unassailable half-time ad-vantage

Banbury halted Leamington’s nine-game winning run in Midlands 2 West South and maintained their own promotion push with an 18-0 victory, set up by a powerful display from their pack. The visitors had the better of a scoreless first half, but then

Grove got back to winning ways in South West 1 East with a 23-14 victory on Maidenhead’s artificial pitch, but it was a far from faultless display. In particular, their line-out and scrummaging need attention. Grove started in lively fashion

OXFORD is set to go Gallic later this year as the city celebrates its long-standing relationship with a French friend. A series of events are planned across the city as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the twinning link between Oxford

Voting is now open to the public to find the Face of Oxford to launch Oxford Fashion Week 2014. People can now register their vote for their favourite of 135 male and female models on Facebook to choose who they want to promote and represent the

CHILDREN blasted off into an imaginary world as part of a project to boost language skills. The youngsters from the nursery class at Cutteslowe Primary School on Thursday had a visit from Explorer Dome to boost their learning. Staff from the

THE Turl Street Arts Festival is now in full flow and a city college played host to the tastiest event yet at the weekend. Lasting 11 days, the annual event is held in February to celebrate the creative talents of the three Turl Street colleges

EXPERTS handed out energy saving advice at the conclusion of a low carbon group’s thermal imaging campaign. Thermal images of more than 100 homes were taken by members of the Rose Hill and Iffley Low Carbon Group over three weeks using specialist