Banbury residents fighting a plan to build 1,100 new houses on green belt land at Bodicote have criticised a local newspaper's question and answer article into the proposals. The story put a series of questions to developers Hallam Land Management. But
A hostel for homeless people is being opposed by residents who say they fear it would bring 'undesirables' to their neighbourhood. Linda Hyde, who lives in Dorchester, has bought a house that was formerly a bed and breakfast in Chaunterell Way, Abingdon
A major investigation into Abingdon's historic abbey could go ahead after the offer of a 55,000 National Lottery grant. The Vale of White Horse District Council will receive the cash, which represents 75 per cent of the amount needed, if its policy committee
The world's first shoes to be made for talking were hailed a success when inventor Trevor Baylis successfully called Sir Richard Branson at his home from the Namibian Desert. Mr Baylis, 62, who was on a 100-mile trek across the desert organised by the
Cancer victim Elizabeth Day killed herself only months after being diagnosed with the disease. The retired coil-winding technician had become de- pressed after learning she had ovarian cancer in January, an inquest was told. Mrs Day, 58, of Little Coxwell
Adam Newman and Lez Elston, better known as Lab4, were on the verge of calling it a day after the release of their debut album last year. A host of set-backs, all beyond the control of the duo, caused them, to say the least, severe frustration. Salvation
Oxford's only monthly music magazine, Nightshift, celebrates its fifth birthday with two triple-bill specials at The Point. On Friday (July 7), experimental dark-popsters Vigilance Black Special (who recently released We're Wolves for the Shifty Disco
A science firm in Oxfordshire is helping with a new technique that can assess whether breast cancer has spread without the need for major exploratory surgery. Harwell-based AEA Technology is supplying sophisticated equipment that helps pinpoint cancerous
Wallingford is gearing up for a spectacular nine-day Millennium festival. The extended celebration will involve almost every sector of the community and is the first of its kind in Wallingford's history. Thousands of people are expected to visit the town
As the missing 15-year-old Sufiah Yusof complains of 'emotional abuse', Zahra Akkerhuys asks: Should child prodigies be studying in our city? Going to university has become a modern-day rite of passage, writes Zahra Akkerhuys. The chance for young adults
Ian Townsend celebrates local success in the best kept villages competition . . . Four Oxfordshire villages have won the top awards in the Millennium Best Kept Village competition. Adderbury took the winners' class award, Stanford in the Vale won the
A Chilly evening with more than a hint of rain, a lot of pollen in the air and the threat of biting insects - this was the first night of the City of Oxford Theatre Guild's production of Twelfth Night in the garden of New College, where it runs until
A retired professor who died with his wife and a relative in a horrific head-on car crash in Australia took on the might of the Royal Air Force 30 years ago. Prof Jerry Sherwood, 75, his wife Naomi, 74, and a cousin, Pay Beyger, 80, from Brampton, Cumbria
The Wantage hospital will be run by the new-style Vale and West Primary Care Trust (PCT) from next year. And members of the community are being asked to apply to sit on the board, which will determine how its budget is spent and what services are provided
King's Lynn 53, Oxford Cheetahs 37 JT/FOX Oxford Cheetahs crashed to their second successive defeat in two days with a drubbing by a classy King's Lynn Knights side, who look like they are now set to march on to Elite League glory, writes Leon Hill. Things
Oxfordshire failed to reach the quarter-finals of the Middleton Cup by just two shots. After wins over the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, Oxon were waiting with bated breath for the outcome of the Berkshire v Hampshire match on Saturday, which would decide
Despite a superb effort by guest Jason Lyons at Wolves, the end result was a disappointment for JT/FOX Oxford Cheetahs who suffered most of the bad luck that was going. Ales Dryml followed up his two wins at Belle Vue with another in heat two in Monday's
Oxford United's players reported back for training yesterday - but there was still no sign of Mark Watson. The Canadian defender was due to train with the rest of the squad, but failed to show, leaving boss Denis Smith wondering where his centre back
Todd Wiltshire is the latest rider to have his own slot on the world wide web. The site has been developed by the same company, leotep internet, who have done such a good job on Oxford speedway. It contains a host of features, including a detailed look
An Oxford soccer fan who claims he was unjustly deported from Belgium during Euro 2000, fears he could be blacklisted from matches despite having no convictions for hooliganism. David Crosthwaite, of Hornbeam Drive, Northfields, Greater Leys, was arrested
Stewart Laudat returned the best figures of his career as Oxfordshire comfortably beat Cornwall in The Parks. The win means they consolidate their position at the top of the Minor Counties Western Division. The Rover Cowley all-rounder took 7-39 and with
A popular Wallingford social club has closed after 40 years. The 600 members of the ABM Club will have to find new premises after being asked to leave. The centre forms part of the former Pauls Malt plant in St John's Road, and the firm has asked them
An elderly pensioner who was badly injured after tripping over a drain is angry at the compensation she has received. Beatrix Walsh, 88, has been awarded 3,000 damages and 10,000 towards legal costs more than a year after breaking her right hip and shoulder
The last link between the Cowley car plant and Rover has been broken with the production of the last Rover 75 executive saloon in Oxford. The last car rolled off the line yesterday afternoon marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new stage in
Oxford city planners are to ask the full council to decide whether they should reconsider plans for a massive 20m Islamic centre. The decision was prompted by lone Tory member Cllr Barbara Burgess, who urged the planning committee to overturn its decision
Thames Valley Police is considering dramatic new ways to improve the service it offers to the thousands of people who telephone the force each day, writes Andrew Ffrench. Proposals to create two new hi-tech 999 control rooms - at Abingdon and Milton Keynes
Here's a thought. All those expensive telephone chat-lines - just who are they aiming at? Surely, party people would be, well, partying and not making phone calls wouldn't they?writes Pookie Hudson. The very same thing occurred to Scrambler, who hail
Originally from Frilford, near Abingdon,Tom Hingley first found fame as the singer with The Inspiral Carpets - a band who were part of the city's booming scene in the eighties, alongside such legends as the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays. Tom was offered
The Kooler at The Bullingdon, Cowley Road, has a four-band spectacular on July 6. Abingdon's Scrambler (see interview) line-up alongside former Inspiral Carpets singer, Tom Hingley, who plays a 'home town' show as part of his national tour for his debut
Sunday (July 9) sees a night of full-on nu-rock 'n' metal with Kerrang! magazine favourites Earthtone 9 and Vacant Stare dropping in. They are at The Kooler at The Bullingdon as part of their current UK tour. Oxford's own metal meisters, Mindsurfer, light
Consumer Affairs Minister Kim Howells was visiting Oxford today (July 6) with a group of American investors on a tour of key regeneration projects in the city. Dr Howells and the eight US business leaders went on a guided bus tour of Blackbird Leys before
Consumer Affairs Minister Kim Howells was visiting Oxford today with a group of American entrepreneurs on a tour of key regeneration projects in the city. Dr Howells and the eight US business leaders went on a guided bus tour of Blackbird Leys before
Beer Festival organisers are hoping the taps don't run dry in Charlbury. They are bringing extra ale - a total of 1,500 pints - to keep the customers going at this year's event, in the town's Memorial Hall on July 15. Last year, more than 1,200 pints
A family day is planned to help create a sense of togetherness in Oxford's African and West Indian community. Called 'Bring it Back', the event in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, is the brainchild of Street Dreams, agroup of young people and adults. The event
An emergency first aid course, for people who have not done one in the last two years, is being run by Rycotewood College at Thame. The 15-a-head course on July 12 covers major illnesses, burns and scalds, assessing casulaties and what to do about shock
From: Andy_Jerrie_Bex@bigcrofty.freeserve.co.uk Did you go to Wheatley Park School? Do your O'Levels/CSE's in 1977? Interested in a reunion in 2001 (we'll all be 40!)? Contact me on: Andy_Jerrie_Bex@bigcrofty.freeserve.co.uk It could be fun!!
Businesses are afraid existing shops will lose out to new stores in Didcot's planned 30m Orchard Centre - unless shoppers are encouraged to circulate freely between the two centres. Despite plans showing pedestrian links between new shops and Broadway
Private homeowners sitting on empty properties could be targeted to help ease a housing crisis. West Oxfordshire District Council is considering taking action - including compulsory purchase powers because of the shortage of rented social housing. The
Village ducks could soon be safe from foxes, cats and rats if a new refuge is approved, writes Ian Townsend. The refuge is planned for the middle of the pond outside Haddenham Parish Church, but parish councillors are unsure whether to back the idea.
Thame Millennium Festival organisers are having to dig deep into their own pockets to meet losses made by the nine-day event. Chairman John Day said: "We have agreed not to say how much money is involved. But it is a substantial amount for each member
The long-term future of Banbury Fair was thrown into doubt this week. Castle Quay shopping centre manager Jim Harris wants the fair moved from its traditional town centre site. He said today's high-tech rides and amusements were not suitable for modern
Staff and pupils have been celebrating a run of successes at an Oxfordshire primary school. St Nicolas Primary School, Abingdon, has received one of the first Investors in People awards for schools. The occasion was also the school's 40th birthday, and
A village is pressing to get its own co-ordinated transport system. Haddenham Parish Council wants bus and train operators to co-operate to give passengers the best service. Members want the bus service that goes to the Haddenham-Thame Parkway Station
People in Thame have the opportunity to check the town council's accounts. Town clerk Pat Kingsnorth said the books are audited every year and anyone interested can inspect and make copies of anything to do with them. They can also challenge the council
Although billed as a magnificent sporting occasion by the top three finishers in the Polish Grand Prix, I doubt if Oxford's Todd Wiltshire and Jimmy Nilsen would agree. Everything was in place for another nail-biter and with a record 30,000 crowd for
Witney Town extended their lead at the top of Division 4, in the Kennington Bowls Specialists Oxford & District League, thanks to a 5-1 victory over rivals Charlbury. Kidlington's promotion ambitions were dented when they lost all six points away
Magnolia Park, the impressive new course on the Oxfordshire/Bucks border at Boarstall, today hosts the second tournament of the PGA Southern Tour. The 72-hole Magnolia Park Classic is played over three days, with a prize fund of 25,000 sponsored by Walters
England Bowling Association president John Austin brought two teams to his home county. First was a trip to Oxford City & County to mark their 65th anniversary. The president's men triumphed 222-183 and by eight rinks to two. The following day, the
Clive Bowler extended his reign as Oxford City's top golfer when he won the club championship for the fourth successive year at Southfield. However, it was a mighty close thing as Andy Hooker needed an eight-foot putt on the final green to force a play-off
As the missing 15-year-old Sufiah Yusof complains of 'emotional abuse', Zahra Akkerhuys asks: Should child prodigies be studying in our city? Going to university has become a modern-day rite of passage, writes Zahra Akkerhuys. The chance for young adults
Staff and pupils have been celebrating a run of successes at an Oxfordshire primary school. St Nicolas Primary School, Abingdon, has received one of the first Investors in People awards for schools. The occasion was also the school's 40th birthday, and
