Sir - When I was briefly a psychiatric in-patient in Surrey on four occasions in the 1980s, all of which could have been avoided, had the treatment I received not been so utterly abominable, the cause for concern was the sometimes brutal, ignorant, callous
Farmers are being warned to take extra care when working with machinery while harvesting following the death of a south Oxfordshire farmer. The national Health and Safety Executive is investigating what happened to Paul Warburton, 62, of North Farm, Shillingford
One of Witney's town centre public toilets is open again - part of a major programme to refurbish all of the district's conveniences. The £1m investment over five years aims to upgrade the facilities to help West Oxfordshire's expanding tourism trade.
Abingdon Town boss Paul Berry will be hoping ex-Oxford United winger Joey Beauchamp can maintain his impressive pre-season form when they travel to Camberley Town for Saturday's Ryman League Division 2 opener tomorrow. Beauchamp, who netted 17 goals last
Brackley Town won't be there just to make up the numbers when they kick-off their Southern League Division 1 West campaign at home to Cinderford Town. Boss Tim Fowler has been busy in the transfer market, bringing in the ex-Oxford United defensive duo
Banbury United boss Kevin Brock will be looking to ex-Yeovil and Birmingham City striker Howard Forinton to make an impact when they start their Southern League Premier Division season with a tough trip to Bath City. He said the partnership between Forinton
Thame United striker Jon Gardner has declared himself fit for the forthcoming Southern League Division 1 West campaign which begins at home to Sutton Coldfield. He missed much of last season with a foot injury, but is now raring to go. Manager Mark West
Oxford City boss Andy Sinnott is setting his sights on a top half finish as they start their Southern League Division 1 West campaign with a trip to Bromsgrove. He will be looking to partner Wayne Cort, the brother of Wolves striker Carl, with promising
Residents are not looking forward to a disused cattle market becoming a car park while Bicester town centre is redeveloped. Cherwell District Council, the owner of the cattle market, has given itself permission to turn the two-acre Victoria Road site
Parish councillors in Sandford-on-Thames have registered their opposition to 4,000 new homes on the outskirts of Oxford. A proposed scheme for 1,000 new homes south of Grenoble Road, near Oxford United's Kassam Stadium, has been withdrawn from the county
Recycling in Oxfordshire is at its highest ever level, according to figures released by Environment Minister Elliot Morley. Oxfordshire recycled 20 per cent of its household waste, including paper, compost, glass, plastic bottles, plastic containers and
Householders are celebrating after councillors opposed a plan to let diners use a floating pontoon at a riverside restaurant. Orde Levinson, who owns Aqua Vitae at Folly Bridge, Abingdon Road, Oxford, applied for planning permission to allow diners and
Sir - In reply to Gillian Whitty (Oxford Mail, August 3), my point, which she fails to understand, is "animals or people first". The endless letters in your newspaper put animals before people. For example, the anti-vivisectionists, who are the same individuals
Sir - Your article about illegal cycling at Bicester (Oxford Mail, August 5) was another example of the way riders flout the law. The same day, on your Letters page, Laurence Hughes put it all into perspective. I don't believe the majority of cyclists
Sir - Your report on Oxford City Council sickness rates (Oxford Mail, August 5) refers to the new sickness absence policy, which came into effect last year. Anne-Marie Scott, head of human resources, continues to support this policy, despite its obvious
Militants in the southern Iraqi city of Basra have kidnapped a British journalist and threatened to kill him if US forces do not leave the holy city of Najaf within 24 hours. In a video, the journalist, barechested and with a bandage on his head, identified
A "neighbour from hell" has been told to expect a jail term if he is seen wielding a baseball bat or attempts to return to an Oxford estate. Graham DeBanks, 40, was given a two-year antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) after his rowdy conduct caused harassment
SATURDAY FOOTBALL COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO Oxford Utd v Scunthorpe. SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div: Bath City v Banbury Utd. Div 1 West: Brackley v Cinderford Tn, Bromsgrove v Oxford City, Thame v Sutton Coldfield. RYMAN LEAGUE Div 2: Camberley Tn v Abingdon
The Datsuns are party animals. And they are proud of it. After years of struggling to get noticed, the New Zealand rockers are enjoying their well-earned time in the limelight. And, says frontman Dolf Datsun, there is no better place for living the rock
While August may be slow in theatreland, with many venues closing for a month or so while the holiday play schemes run, it's a good time to look ahead and preview what is coming up in time to book. And there's no shortage of famous names, musicals, plays
There is a great temptation when demand for homes is growing and prices are soaring to say that we should build more and more. The Government clearly sees it as a vote-winner if it can provide reasonably-priced housing, particularly for young people trying
A rogue builder who took cash deposits from potential clients but never carried out the work has escaped jail. Former Salvation Army officer Brian Timbrell, 63, of Oakford Walk, Swindon, appeared for sentence at Oxford Crown Court yesterday (Thursday,
A permanent water shortage throughout Oxfordshire with homes deprived of "basic needs" is a real possibility, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council has claimed. In his role as chairman of the South East of England Regional Assembly (Seera), council
Heroin addicts in Oxford should have access to "shooting galleries" where they can inject their drugs and dispose of dirty needles. This is the view of city councillor Susanna Pressel, who believes the move would help reduce the number of needles discarded
D-DAY is approaching for developers who want to build a major housing scheme in the heart of Jericho - after more city councillors backed their revised plans. Councillors from the central, south and west area committee joined their colleagues on the north
Oxford Silver Machine suffered their third rain-off in as many days when last night's Elite League encounter at Coventry was called off because of a waterlogged track. It followed the wash-outs at Belle Vue on Wednesday (after one heat) and Peterborough
Tommy Mooney has set Oxford United's strikers a 50-goal challenge to help the team achieve prom- otion. The former Swindon striker netted his new club's first of the season in Wednesday's win over Mansfield as Graham Rix's side recorded their first success
Sir - Recently I used the term 'Coca Cola/Pepsi Cola politics' to describe the lack of any discernable difference between Labour and the Liberal Democrats. That these parties instinctively band together against the Independent Working Class Association
