Two Oxfordshire lorry drivers were told they could be carrying live Second World War bombs - and then had to wait 90 minutes for help. Steve Radband and colleague Phillip Buckingham pulled into a layby near Didcot and dialled 999 immediately after receiving
A Normandy veteran has died, aged 85, after an illness. Reginald Goodhall, of Woodfield Road, Bicester, went to the commemorations on the beaches on northern France last year and had been several times before. But he was too ill to go this year. A lorry
The streets of Oxford will be much safer without the likes of Lee Davies. He launched such a savage attack in an alleyway at Barton that his victim, Stephen Taylor, faces spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Davies will have plenty of time to
For once, the regulators are doing their job. Rather than rubber-stamping price increases, as many of them do, Ofwat, the water industry watchdog, has done a great public service. It has scrutinised Thames Water's demand for a 39 per cent increase in
Town councillors want to vet the recruitment strategy for nurses at Wantage Hospital because of a deepening mistrust of NHS administrators. They say they need evidence of a concerted effort by the South West Primary Care Trust to staff the community hospital
School for pupils with learning difficulties is being transformed as part of an overhaul of special school provision in Oxfordshire. Woodeaton Manor School, which is currently a day special school for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, will become
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
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
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
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
Antiquarian bookseller and keen musician Albi Rosenthal has died at his home in Boars Hill, near Oxford, aged 89. He is survived by his wife Maud, and their three children Jackie Gray, Jim Rosenthal and Julia Rosenthal. His son Jim, who is an ITV sports
This is the best big-budget science fiction film since Minority Report. Directed by Alex Proyas, it takes ideas presented in Isaac Asimov's classic anthology of nine short stories and uses them as the basis of a thrilling action-adventure movie. Asimov
Banbury residents have welcomed the introduction of new beat officers to tackle antisocial behaviour in the town. Two new community officers, Pc Justin Smart and Pc Jim Kinton, will cover Grimsbury and Bretch Hill. The Grimsbury area had been without
With Oxford City's Mark Beerling, winner of the last three races in the Mota-vation series, absent, Birchfield Harrier Tom Penfold cruised to victory in the fourth round at Chipping Norton. Penfold, who formerly ran with White Horse Harriers, easily saw
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
Families are protesting that noise and dust caused by work on the town centre redevelopment at Didcot are making life a misery. Residents claimed the din from excavators and construction work, along with the dust, had made them virtual prisoners in their
People have been warned to take care before leaving on holiday after an Oxfordshire family returned to find their home had been burgled. The family in Courtington Lane, Bloxham, near Banbury, found thieves had broken in and stolen a camcorder. The burglary
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 - 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
Children and adults are being warned of the dangers of swimming or diving in rivers. With the school holidays in full swing, the Environment Agency and Thames Valley Police are reminding people of the hidden risks of the county's rivers, lakes and ponds
The Anglo-Saxon Week is part of the historically themed Ollie the Ox's Childrens Club, a museum club for 5-12 year olds that provides regular newsletters as well as special events and competitions. Maureen Christian, executive member for culture, events
A young woman pedalled through Oxford chasing a thief who snatched her bag. She was riding along a cycle path beside the eastern bypass, near the Horspath industrial estate, when the cycle-riding mugger struck. It was one of a number of robberies in the
More homes are on the way for central Abingdon after a planning inspector stepped in and over-ruled a council's decision to block a development. A major scheme to revamp the Thames View business estate off Audlett Drive and build nearly 200 homes has
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
Calls for a rethink of a futuristic-looking building that one trader says could make Abingdon a "laughing stock" have been rejected. The Co-op is to replace its existing 40-year-old building in West St Helen Street with a contemporary design that has
Award-winning farmer and conservationist Paul Warburton, 62, was killed in an accident while harvesting at North Farm, Shillingford Hill. He was run over by his combine harvester and died of his injuries in hospital earlier this month. Mr Warburton was
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.
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
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
Alchester's Sarah Heath continued her year of triumph on the track as she struck gold in both the 800m and 1500m in the European Veterans' Track & Field Championships in Arhus, Denmark. She won her qualifying heat in the 800m, before cruising to victory
Radley's A team won their Southern Women's League Division 1 meeting at Harrow, edging out the host club by seven points. In a tight contest on Saturday, Radley did not post many victories, but picked up useful points across the board to secure team victory
BMW Great Britain has announced the launch of Sport models for the 5 Series Saloon and Touring range. The new 5 Series Sport Visually similar to the recently unveiled high-performance M5 saloon, Sport models feature a number of interior and exterior enhancements
The family of two sisters who were shot dead at a barbecue have thanked neighbours for raising £20,000 for one of the victim's children. Stuart Horgan killed his estranged wife Vicky, 27, and her 25-year-old sister, Emma Walton, at Highmoor Cross, near
The detective who acted as liaison officer to the family of Soham murder victim Jessica Chapman has been jailed for eight months after he was found guilty at the Old Bailey of conspiring to pervert the course of justice. Dc Brian Stevens, 43, gave police
A decision is awaited from the Attorney General's office in the case of a chef who may face a manslaughter charge. Bruce Hill was jailed for four years for causing grievous bodily harm to Norman McErlean by slamming his fold-away bed against the wall
An Oxford pensioner was disgusted when a letter arrived at her home cut in half - four months after she sent it to a sick friend. Sheila Patterson, 70, sent the letter first class on April 19 from a postbox in Cowley centre as a get well message to her
A student wanted to help a bored leopard at a wildlife park through a long hot summer - and hit upon the idea of ice lollies made from blood. Jessei, a 12-year-old amur leopard at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, is losing his eyesight and spends much of his
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 - 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
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
