2005

* Police and paramedics are searching for hoaxers who have put lives at risk by making a spate of 999 calls in Oxfordshire.

* City councillors were applauded when they rejected plans by Christ Church to demolish the historic Westgate and River Hotels in Botley Road, Oxford.

1995

* Oxford United are on the verge of victory in their long search for a ground – city councillors are being urged to back the club’s bid for a £15m, 15,000-seat stadium at Minchery Farm.

* Protests are growing over plans to close BBC Radio Oxford and merge it with Reading-based Radio Berkshire to save money.

1985

* An inquiry has begun into an explosion in a gas-heated paint oven at the Cowley car plant, in which 26 workers were injured.

* Oxford United face a £500,000 bill to meet new safety requirements at the Manor Ground as they approach their first season in Division 1.

1975

* A further cutback in production of the Morris Marina at Cowley is expected soon, and British Leyland is likely to seek about 1,000 voluntary redundancies.

* A Macaw that escaped from the Cotswold Wildlife Park in Burford turned up in Grove and led police and villagers a merry dance before it was recaptured.

1965

* A sluice will be raised next week and millions of gallons of water will start to flow from the River Thames into Oxford Corporation’s new reservoir at Farmoor.

* High-speed passenger trains between Oxford and Bicester will stop at Oddington to deliver water to level crossing keeper Doreen Santi, who has no mains supply.

1955

* Magistrates have refused to allow Marlon Brando’s latest film, The Wild One, to be shown in Oxford because they fear it could encourage hooligans.

* Oxford Road Safety Committee is calling for annual checks on bicycles after complaints that many, particularly those owned by car workers and students, are in a poor condition.