Archive

  • Building bosses fear tax chaos

    CONSTRUCTION bosses fear their industry could be thrown into chaos when the Inland Revenue launches its latest weapon in the battle against building site fraudsters. For many years, only sub-contractors holding special certificates could be paid gross

  • Sportsman Karl killed in smash

    A well-known sportsman and businessman has been killed in a road crash. Karl Hearn, 58, of Churchill Road, Kidlington, was driving his company van when it collided with a lorry between Rycote Lane and the A418 near the Oxfordshire Golf Course, near Thame

  • Katie wins skateboard without wheels

    A mother has blasted penny-pinching council bosses after her daughter won first prize in a competition - a skateboard with no wheels. Schoolgirl Katie O'Driscoll, 12, was one of hundreds of local youngsters who suggested a name for a new skateboard park

  • A battle ahead with rare illness

    Baby Charlie Whitaker faces a tough battle with Diamond Blackfan anaemia. He needs a blood transfusion every three weeks because he has bone marrow failure. His mum Michelle said his red blood cell count was 25 per cent of a normal reading. If he cannot

  • Rarest child in the world

    Baby Charlie Whitaker is suffering from one of the world's rarest diseases, writes Richard Abbott. The six-month-old is one of just 400 people IN THE WORLD stricken with Diamond Blackfan anaemia. There are fewer than 50 sufferers in Britain. His mum and

  • Close shave to aid Leah

    Pet shop assistant Melissa Jeacock made a hair-raising for her little niece - when she had her head shaved. The 21-year-old, who works for Money and Friends Pet Shop in Abingdon, has raised more than £100 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust - and hopes as many

  • New shock at Bertie Place

    Cleaning up Oxford's contaminated Bertie Place was handled so badly it cost the city council £88,000 more than expected. That's the damning criticism of the £1.4m project in a new report - by the council's own officers. The internal audit found: *Liaison

  • A right royal day for Hayley

    Disabled youngster Hayley Roberts used computer power to welcome the Princess Royal to a new therapy centre. Hayley, nine, who suffers from cerebral palsy, presented the Princess with a bouquet of flowers, then touched a computer button to complete her

  • Traders' pain as changes drag on

    Businesses are suffering a dramatic fall in trade, due to roadworks which are gridlocking traffic. According to the Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce, some traders' profit margins in Oxford city centre are down 25 per cent on the same time last year. Now

  • Councillor denies 'housing interest'

    A councillor is facing an investigation after allegations that he broke the rules by speaking in housing debates. But Terry Joslin, a Labour member of Didcot town council, refuted the claims and insisted he had done nothing wrong. The Local Government

  • Three score and ten happy years

    They have gone for gold, proved that diamonds are forever and now they've hit platinum. William and Constance Sirett, from Stratton Audley, near Bicester, joined a very select group of couples when they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. The First