THE SEARCH for word clues had youngsters delving into Bicester Library at a craft session staged in the town.Volunteers at the library in Pioneer Square hosted the craft day for children to coincide with the launch of the summer reading scheme on Saturday.The
PLANS for a new care home were put to councillors in Bicester.The Bicester Town Council planning committee were shown plans on Monday of the proposed care home to be built off Skimmingdish Lane.It would be two-storey and house 64-beds for older people
A BEER festival at a historic manor farm proved a big hit despite heavy rain threatening to make it a wash out. The Cogges Beer and Cider Festival returned to Cogges Manor Farm for its sixth year and about 1,000 people came along to join the festivities
AN ANNUAL festival to celebrate one of Oxford’s most famous museums will take place this weekend.Pitt Fest, championing all the wonderful and historic collections at the Pitt Rivers Museum, will feature workshops, tours, live music and talks on Saturday
THIEVES have stolen cash after they raided businesses in Oxford.North Parade Avenue and Banbury Road businesses were targeted in the early hours of Monday, with cash being stolen from both premises.Police are urging any witnesses to contact them on 101
THE last remaining pub in Summertown could be getting some fancy new signs following a successful refurbishment.The Dew Drop Inn has applied for the new signs - depicting a blue rain drop - to be erected in Banbury Road and on the pub itself.The pub rebranded
THE MP for Banbury has removed all comments from her public Facebook page after a surge in online abuse over the course of last week.Victoria Prentis, who is in her second term as Conservative MP, said the 2017 General Election had brought out 'the
THE mastermind behind a drugs ring who used his ill-gotten cash to build a property empire has been ordered to pay £1million. Neil Wadley, formerly of Pound lane, Upton near Didcot, was the kingpin in a gang which supplied drugs across the South
WORK to move Great Crested Newts away from the railway in Bicester will start next week.Network Rail will be creating new habitats for the species by excavating two new ponds and planting hedgerows from July 31.It is part of the team's railway upgrade
A WOLF left to raise his cubs alone after his mate was shot following an escape from Cotswold Wildlife Park is displaying 'encouraging behaviour'.Concerns were raised over the cubs' future when their mum, Ember, was killed by staff after squeezing
THE new director of services for people with learning disabilities is passionate about improving the health inequalities they suffer. Determined to make health services in the county accessible for everyone, Liz Williams already has plans in place
UPDATE: Read more about the family's drug dealing network from East Oxford home A FAMILY who flooded the city with heroin and crack cocaine and dealt to thousands of drug addicts out of their East Oxford home have been jailed. The Ahmed family
A SECOND famous steam engine will join the arguably world's most famous locomotive at Didcot Railway Centre.The Union of South Africa will join the revered Flying Scotsman for two days in August.The heritage event marks a historic moment for the centre
THE decision to delay the 2017 police officer pay award is yet another blow to police officer morale, the Chairman of Thames Valley Police Federation has said.Police Constable Craig O’Leary was reacting to the news that the police officer pay rise award
APPLICATIONS for those wanting to be fast tracked into becoming a detective for Thames Valley Police will open on July 31. The specialist entry detective programme will enable new recruits to specialise as investigators in just two years. To apply visit
YOUNGSTERS at Cropredy Primary School have taken part in a pioneering project to learn about where their food comes from.The Banbury school in Station Road has been working alongside a neighbouring landowner and a firm to create a thriving new community
CHIEF Constables must redress the balance to focus on officers’ welfare, if mental health is to improve, the former boss of Thames Valley Police has said.Sara Thornton head of the National Police Chief Council made the claim as she launched a three-point
ROADWORKS that would have left part of a road in Hailey closed for six weeks have been postponed by a year.The gas works were due to start on Hailey Road (the B4022) earlier this week. However, due to other works on the diversion route, they were delayed
A ‘GIRLS’ night’ of cake, drinks, music and clothes swapping is to be held at the King’s Centre in aid of an Oxford charity.The event runs from 7pm on Monday, September 11 with all proceeds going to Edge Housing, which offers accommodation to vulnerable
CHILDREN can get involved in free and fun holiday activities across Oxford during the summer break.Oxford City Council’s Youth Ambition team is running a range programmes for young people right across the city this summer with full-day, half-day, 2-hourly
BUDDING baton-twirlers are invited to join Oxford’s only majorette troupe as it seeks new faces for the display team.The Strawberry Fayre Majorettes meet from 6.30pm on Wednesday evenings in The Barn, Greater Leys and perform at fetes, carnivals and parades
AN OXFORD charity has been running a series of therapeutic sessions for people affected by the Grenfell Tower disaster.The Art Room, based at Oxford Spires Academy, sets up creative spaces in schools for children facing emotional difficulties.Over the
A CLUB that comes together to serve the community of Witney has appointed a new president.The new president of Witney Lions Club is Phil Birkett - who has spent 12 years as a Lion and served as the president once before. Mr Birkett, after taking the role
A REGGAE tent, Mad Hatter’s tea party, pony rides and hands-on workshops will bring a treasured green space in Florence Park to life with the return of Elder Stubbs Festival.From 12pm to 6pm on Saturday, August 19 the allotments in Rymers Lane will again
A plan to renovate offices and expand a health centre in Oxford will be decided by councillors next week. The unit at the Barton Neighbourhood Centre on Underhill Circus would be used by the existing Barton Surgery if permission is granted. It is currently
A NEWLY-APPOINTED professor at Oxford University is hoping to ‘revolutionise’ popular understanding of autism and how it affects empathy.Professor Geoff Bird, who joined the university earlier this year as Associate Professor in Experimental Psychology
WORK is well under way near Didcot to turn a disused tunnel into a new route for cyclists and pedestrians.Oxfordshire County Council and its contractors Skanska are working this summer on the Backhill Tunnel scheme between Milton Park and Didcot.More
A FAMILY support group in South Oxfordshire has appealed for donations to deliver more help to first-time parents.Home-Start Southern Oxfordshire, a voluntary home-visiting scheme, wants to secure £4,320 worth of cash pledges to fuel a fundraising frenzy.The
Katie Herring is sales and marketing manager at CultivateSUMMER produce really brings a rainbow of colours to our shelves.At the moment we have brilliant red cabbages, shiny purple aubergines, verdant green beans, rosy red cherry tomatoes and sunshine
STALLS will fill a market square in Abingdon.The quarterly Local Excellence Market will return to Market Place on Saturday, selling an array of produce between 9am and 3pm. Items for sale include fruit and vegetables, baked treats, jewellery and craft
THE archive papers of former Chancellor of the Exchequer Denis Healey have been deposited at the Bodleian Library in Oxford.Mr Healey, who was Labour Chancellor from 1974 to 1979, died in 2015.The archive features speeches and articles, as well as wide-ranging
ZORBING, giant bubbles, water pistol painting, drumming and more wild and wonderful activities will be on offer at a family fun day in Witney.The event, on King George V Field in Newland, Witney, will be held throughout the day on Thursday, August 3.Other
NATURE lovers in Oxfordshire are being encouraged to join the RSPB’s Big Wild Sleepout under the stars this weekend.Thousands of families across the UK have already signed up to spend the night in their garden or a local park looking out for nocturnal
AS THE Oxford Bus Museum marks a very special anniversary, we took the opportunity to look at the volunteers who make it a success. A team of hard-working transport enthusiasts created the institution one vintage bus at a time – steadily growing their
THIEVES stole vehicle registration plates from a car parked in Oxford.The theft took place in Woodruff Close, Blackbird Leys, between Thursday and Monday.Anyone with information should call 101, quoting reference number 43170218955.
AN ACCLAIMED Californian youth group is to perform at Wesley Memorial Church in Oxford.The Starfire Singers, a Methodist youth group from the United States, is touring the UK this summer and will be performing at Wesley Memorial Church in New Inn Hall
A COLLECTION of valuable jewellery was stolen from the bedroom of a 83-year-old woman while she was in her home. Various rare items were taken from a bedside tray and jewellery box by a thief who climbed through an open window on the ground floor
IT’s had several breakdowns and had to be pushed across the Bosnian border to prevent overheating.But Manuel the Maestro is still proving a miracle as it continues on its adventure to the Siberian town of Ulan-Ude in Mongolia.Almost two weeks since setting
ALMOST £30,000 was handed out to a bunch of good causes in Oxfordshire as they bagged a slice of the Gannett Foundation cash in the last round of funding.The Oxford Mail's parent company Gannett Media has launched its annual search for charities looking
SCOTTISH craft beer giant BrewDog is planning to open a bar on Oxford’s Cowley Road. BrewDog Retail Ltd has applied to the city council to vary the premises licence and alter the layout at 119 Cowley Road, formerly Harry’s, under the Licensing
A CARE home that was rapped for safety failures has made 'urgent improvements' to rescue its service.Stowford House has been taken out of special measures after taking steps to tackle a catalogue of errors, which were highlighted in a damning
A MAN who chained himself to the gates of Cherwell District Council's offices with a sound system blaring has got away with a caution. The stand-off on Monday at Bodicote House, just south of Banbury, lasted for several hours and saw the man eventually
OXENFORD 2nd squeezed into the Steve Dixon Memorial Cup final in a thrilling finish to their incident-packed semi-final at Hook Norton.The visitors got through by losing fewer wickets in a tie, while Hooky were left to rue a rare obstructed the field
A DIDCOT woman has sacrificed her crowning glory for charity to help fund heart screenings for more than 100 young people.Holding her rainbow locks in her hand and feeling her smooth new hairstyle, Rachael Mannion said she was pleased to have gone through
JEREMY Corbyn`s plans to axe the poignant student debt of £100bn was recently unkindly mocked by Andrew Marr. Actually the policy would probably not cost the Government anything. Why? Firstly three quarters of student loans are not presently
CHAKA Artwell (‘Affordable housing U-turn is a betrayal,’ Letters, July 24) has it right: Oxford City Council, along with Oxfordshire’s other district councils and the County Council, are shamefully developer-led, hell-bent on allowing every proper
HAVING been the deputy leader at Oxford City Council for the best part of 10 years, I have seen first-hand how expectations of what councillors do have risen. In Oxford we have a philosophy of saying we do not want being a councillor to be the
A MAGNIFICENT century from Billy Webb saw the OCA League representative XI defeat their Cherwell League counterparts by four wickets to retain the inter-league trophy at East & West Hendred on Sunday.Winning the toss, OCA captain Sam Willett put the Cherwell
THE Oxford Mail (July 25) features a picture of Cllr Hayes and his colleague holding a large poster of the human eye, in the Town Hall, with the message “report it.” The eyes of Oxford City Council’s PC brigade are clearly watching Oxford’s people
FAMILIES will be able to enjoying a roaring good time when a new interactive show comes to Oxford next month. Organisers say intrepid explorers will be required to help in discovering the newly-unveiled world of life-like dinosaurs at Dinosaur World.There
HACKERS seized control of a website used by a trust that runs healthcare services across the county. The usual site belonging to Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust had disappeared this morning after the overnight attack. It was replaced by
A MAN accused of hurling racist abuse at a cabbie before throwing pound coins through his taxi window has been acquitted.Adam Winch of Shores Green, Witney, was accused of two counts of racially aggravated assault and racially aggravated harassment.He
WITNEY has been branded a ‘fatberg’ hotspot – with cooking fat and wet wipes causing major blockages in the town’s sewers every fortnight. Thames Water has launched a campaign in the town to raise awareness of the issue among business owners and
STAGECOACH bus drivers in Oxfordshire have been crowned the best in the UK for 'eco-friendly' and safe driving for a third year running. County colleagues beat 18 Stagecoach regions to retain The Christopher Ball Memorial Award after employees
PREMIER champions Swan A gave themselves an outside chance of holding onto the Greene King Oxford & District League title after they beat their B side 2-1. Dick Walsh led the way with 15 dolls (6-4-5) and was well supported by Jon Townsend (4-6-3) and
A NEW 1,260-pupil school in Oxford could alter its opening times to cut traffic congestion. Residents warned The Swan School will bring ‘gridlock’ to Marston, as more details emerge about staffing numbers, build times and access. Traffic concerns
RESIDENTS have welcomed a £2.2m scheme in Oxford aimed at protecting scores of homes from flash flooding. The city council started work on the Northway and Marston Flood Alleviation Scheme in November last year and three flood water storage areas
THE future of thousands of workers at the Cowley Plant looks set to be secure following an announcement the next generation Mini will be built in Oxford. After months of uncertainty and speculation, board members in Munich revealed yesterday the
UPDATE: Group legal action being considered over Truck 'rip-off' SERIOUS questions have been raised over the future of south Oxfordshire's biggest music festival, with the farmer who owns the site accusing organisers of making it far too commercial
Truck farmer says Truck has 'lost its way' as he reconsiders festival future A CONSUMER champion has appealed for anyone who thinks they were ripped off by this year’s Truck ticketing system to get in touch. Shane Govern, commercial manager
JOE Edwards, one of Oxford City Stars’ leading scorers over the past five years, has re-signed for another season with the English National Ice Hockey League club.Since he returned after one season icing for Milton Keynes Thunder in 2011-12, Edwards has
MIKE Williamson is on a mission to show he can still make a telling contribution on the pitch after joining Oxford United. The centre back has been training with the club for almost a fortnight, joining them on the pre-season trip to Portugal.
LONG-promised funding for a key interchange on the A34 has finally been pledged. The Government has officially promised more than £9m for a 'diamond interchange' at Lodge Hill in Abingdon, which would see the creation of south-facing slip roads
