A schizophrenic man took a driving instructor's car at knifepoint as a learner was doing a three-point turn because he heard voices in his head, a court heard. Armed with a large kitchen knife, Richard Wakefield, 21, opened a door of the car as the manoeuvre
Thirty people have taken voluntary redundancy from biotech company Evotec OAI, but its 350-strong workforce at Milton Park, near Abingdon, is unaffected. The jobs are being shed at the Hamburg discovery services division, which employs 240. The German
Support services group Amey, which has its headquarters in Oxfordshire, has appointed an acting finance director in a bid to calm shareholders' nerves. Eric Tracey, a partner from global accountancy firm Deloitte & Touche, has stepped into the post
A man found dead in the River Thames at Wallingford could have slipped on the river bank and fallen in, an inquest heard. The body of Michael Mather, 36, was found floating in the river about 200m downstream from Bradford's Brook on February 1. Cyclist
Carterton resident Brian Mourton is furious with West Oxfordshire District Council after being allocated a flat in a block for elderly people when he is only 55. Mr Mourton said the flat was too small and he was unable to have his 14-year-old son Stephen
The owner of an award-winning organic farm fears plans for a wind farm nearby could hit courses she runs for people with autism. Farmer Lydia Otter with Sam Kitchen, one of the autistic children she helps Lydia Otter runs the educational courses for young
Tributes have been paid to a popular rugby player from Grove who died after being knocked down by a taxi. Jonathan Aldridge Jonathan Aldridge was walking along the A417 between Wantage and East Challow, near Challow Country Club, at about 12.45am on October
Matches for Sunday, October 27, 2002 (RAWXML: <image large="sport-hockey.gif" small="sport-hockey.gif" type="portrait"></image>Women's club match: Oxford Hawks Harriers v Daventry. Boys Under 14 League: City of Oxford v Newbury, Witney Warriors
Tim Henman missed out on an excellent chance to reach the Swisscom Challenge semi-finals as the exertions of the last week caught up with him. The defending champion and top seed at the Basle event crashed out after a terrific tussle with Wimbledon runner-up
Schoolboy Stuart Dawes has enlisted the help of his family and friends to raise money for the new Oxford Children's Hospital. Stuart, 12, his sister Rebecca, 14, with some of the books they have collected Stuart, 12, his sister Rebecca, 14, and their
A Gulf War veteran who claimed his military experiences caused him psychological difficulties died after overdosing on his wife's painkillers and beer, an inquest heard. Richard Fairlie, 26, was found unconscious by his wife Marie at their home in Redmoor
Fixtures for Saturday, October 26, 2002 (RAWXML: <image large="sport-hockey.gif" small="sport-hockey.gif" type="portrait"></image>SOUTH LEAGUE Premier Div 1: Old Georgians v Oxford Univ. MBB&O Regional: Banbury v Sunbury, City of Oxford
Fixtures for Saturday, October 26, 2002 NATIONWIDE LEAGUE Div 3: Oxford Utd v Shrewsbury Tn. RYMAN LEAGUE Div 1 North: Oxford C v Wembley, Thame Utd v Northwood. Div 2: Abingdon Tn v Kingsbury Tn. DR MARTENS LEAGUE Eastern Div: Banbury Utd v Ashford Tn
One of the top events in the Oxfordshire business calendar has been voted a major success by delegates, organisers and exhibitors. The Oxford Innovation stand at the In Business exhibition The In Business exhibition at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, on October
The Atomic Energy Authority has been undertaking risk assessments of companies at the Harwell Laboratory site in the light of the threatened firefighters' strike. The Harwell International Business Centre has its own emergency services -- including two
Three Oxfordshire teachers will find out tomorrow whether they have won national awards. Helen Reynolds, from Gosford Hill School, Kidlington, John Hawkins, headteacher of Edward Feild Primary School, also in Kidlington, and Joseph Rubba, from Windale
Screens to deaden the sound created at Garsington Opera Festival are to be removed because they created more noise than they prevented. Organisers of the opera have been ordered to take down the screens, but told that they must find an effective solution
A police inspector has admitted the call handling system for Thames Valley is a mess. Inspector Ian Edwards, of Bicester police, said problems should be resolved when two new control rooms and two police inquiry centres become fully operational next spring
A developer's plans to build new houses in Headington have been set back as councillors were unhappy no social housing was included. Oxford City Council's North East Area Committee was minded to approve permission for Wates Homes to build a mixture of
Railtrack has ordered a halt to tree felling alongside a line in north Oxford after protests from residents. Protesters Tina Malta, John Harris and Rob Baron, with son Richard It was the second time in two months that contractors working for the company
A law firm based in Oxford will defend members of a British Geological Survey team who are being sued after well water in Bangladesh was found to be contaminated with naturally-occurring arsenic. The team from Manches are representing a division of the
Oxford United boss Ian Atkins faces an FA disciplinary commission at Reading on Thursday November 7 after being charged with using abusive language at the end of the Worthington Cup first-round tie at Bristol City in September. Atkins, who has requested
For most golfers, a hole-in-one is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But Barbara Gibbins, who only took up the game ten years ago, has recorded three aces - and amazingly - two of them have come in the past month. Barbara Gibbins Barbara, who plays off
Maps of Oxfordshire's crime hotspots could be published for the first time, if Thames Valley Police can find the money. The public will be able to log onto Thames Valley Police's website to see where and what type of crimes are taking place. The force
Judy Ward first cycled to work as a 16-year-old healthcare assistant at Oxford's Radcliffe Infirmary. Yesterday, 45 years later, she pedalled the journey for the last time before her retirement, and the increase in city traffic is not the only change
Council tax bills could jump by as much as £200, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council has warned. Councils and Thames Valley Police have told residents to prepare for a big increase because of Government plans to switch money away from the south-east
A Wallingford fish and chip shop worker who flouted a driving ban has been jailed for 60 days. Roberto Mendes, 31, of High Street, Wallingford, admitted driving without insurance and while disqualified on September 19 along Wilding Road, Wallingford.
Grant Conquest, from Witney, crashed out of the Benson & Hedges Snooker Tournament after letting slip a 4-0 lead against Yorkshireman Paul Davison, who won the last five frames to record an unlikely 5-4 win.
Oxford Devils take on the mighty Plymouth Raiders in the National Trophy at Abingdon's White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre tonight (Sat, 7pm), knowing they must win to reach the quarter-finals. Devils go into this crucial fixture at full strength,
Berinsfield's Simon Welch was a points winner against Onslow Lions' Martin Carey in the 60kg class at a dinner boxing show in Guildford. Carey, who proved to be a rugged opponent, and came out with all guns blazing. But Welch stuck to his boxing skills
Fixtures for Saturday, October 26, 2002 ENGLISH NATIONAL LEAGUE Div 2: Henley v Nottingham. ENGLISH CLUBS CHAMPIONSHIP Powergen South West Div 1: Clifton v Chinnor. Powergen SouthWest 2 East: Grove v Wimborne, Oxford Harlequins v Abbey. Powergen Midlands
Oxford United manager Ian Atkins faces a selection dilemma up front for Saturday's Division 3 clash against Shrewsbury Town, the club where he first made his name as a player. On-loan Gavin Gordon is now fit again to challenge Jefferson Louis and Andy
A major study of the congested junction nine of the M40, near Bicester, will give councillors the chance to lobby for extra lanes. The Department of Transport announced last week that minor alterations would be undertaken in November and December to increase
Games for Sunday, October 27, 2002 WOMEN'S FA CUP 1st round: Rover Oxford v Swindon Tn. MORRELLS OF OXFORD SUNDAY LEAGUE League Cup, 1st round 2nd leg: Chalgrove v Sporting Launton, Ashton Villa v ONS FC. Berinsfield Utd v Jammi, Arncott v North Oxford
Landowners who want to develop 1,000 homes, a hospital, schools and leisure facilities near Bicester have spent £2,500 on leaflets to argue their case. Farming company A G Woodley Ltd is the owner of Whitelands Farm, between Bicester and Chesterton, where
A veteran of two quadruple heart bypass operations has raised £1,270 for charity by swimming 22 miles -- the equivalent of the English Channel. John Flood After taking up swimming as serious exercise last month, John Flood decided to raise money for the
A postman spotted a woman's body through the front window of a house on his village delivery round, an inquest heard. Carol-Ann Fuller, 49, was found dead at her cottage in Main Street, Mixbury, near Banbury, on July 25. Oxford Coroner's Court heard on
Thirty people have taken voluntary redundancy from biotech company Evotec OAI, but its 350-strong workforce at Milton Park, near Abingdon, is unaffected. The jobs are being shed at the Hamburg discovery services division, which employs 240. The German
Support services group Amey, which has its headquarters in Oxfordshire, has appointed an acting finance director in a bid to calm shareholders' nerves. Eric Tracey, a partner from global accountancy firm Deloitte & Touche, has stepped into the post
A law firm based in Oxford will defend members of a British Geological Survey team who are being sued after well water in Bangladesh was found to be contaminated with naturally-occurring arsenic. The team from Manches are representing a division of the
Chocaholics had fun learning about science while enjoying their favourite confectionery. Chris Chadwick, 12, and sister Eleanor, nine, learn about the movement of the Earth's crust using chocolate and wafers Budding scientists joined a series of workshops
A policeman who has proved a thorn in the side of criminals is to step down after 30 years' service. Sgt Bill Butcher Sgt Bill Butcher's crime-busting strategy of defensive planting -- surrounding gardens with dense prickly foliage -- has received coverage
David Blagdon, who is on the run after breaking the terms of his prison licence, will be jailed as soon as he is found. Thames Valley Probation Service has confirmed that is the fate awaiting the 51-year-old, who was only released from prison in August
One of Britain's leading architects has been approached about plans to transform Oxford Town Hall into a concert hall. Sir Jeremy Dixon, best known for the redevelopment of the Royal Opera House in London and, in Oxford, for the Said Business School,
A village has been hit by three burst water mains in four days. Staff at the Thatched Tavern pub in Eaton Road, Appleton, near Cumnor, spent three hours yesterday (25 October) mopping up water that had seeped through the front door from the flooded road
One of the top events in the Oxfordshire business calendar has been voted a major success by delegates, organisers and exhibitors. The Oxford Innovation stand at the In Business exhibition The In Business exhibition at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, on October
Lee Steele and manager Ian Atkins have played down suggestions that the striker's troublesome pelvic injury is career-threatening. Lee SteeleAnd the former Shrewsbury Town and Brighton forward believes he could be back in action in two to three weeks.
Responsibility for parking enforcement across Oxfordshire could be transferred from police to the county council -- increasing the number of tickets issued. The council is only responsible for restrictions in Oxford. In the rest of the county, enforcement
