Written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson, whose film version of Daredevil with Ben Affleck was a diabolical mess, Ghost Rider is an oddly entertaining and visually arresting thrill ride. Admittedly, there's not much substance to Johnson's comic book
Tenants were given the chance to meet developers of a project to replace almost 100 condemned council homes in Rose Hill, Oxford. Housing giant Taylor Woodrow has been picked to carry out the scheme - described as one of the most significant in Oxford
A popular cross-Oxford bus service, linking Barton and Kidlington, is being scrapped because roadworks are causing too many delays. From Sunday, April 1, Stagecoach's No 7 route will be split into two sections, running between the city centre and Kidlington
The Abingdon Needle - a cone-shaped, steel tipped stone sculpture - has been unveiled in the town's Abbey grounds. It marks the completion of a £1.2m Lottery-backed restoration project of the grounds in the ancient heart of Abingdon and site of St Mary's
Historians have been poring over Soviet maps of Oxford produced in the Cold War. The maps reveal locations of every structure of possible military importance in and around the city. The documents, which were produced between 1950 and 1997, suggest
When British Waterways closed Oxford's Castle Mill boatyard in Jericho protesters warned it could be the beginning of the end for the city's boating community. And they say their prediction is coming true after a mother-of-two watched in horror as her
An Oxford pub landlord is stubbing out his cigarettes four months before the official smoking ban - and challenging customers to put an end to the habit. Tom O'Sullivan, who runs the Butchers Arms, in Wilberforce Street, Headington, banned smoking at
Oxford University says millions of valuable books could be safely stored in a proposed flood-resistant book depository close to the Thames. It pledged that the £29m structure in Osney Mead would be one of the safest buildings in the city with impressive
Didcot man Dominic Jackson is dreaming of training to become a racing driver if he scoops £1m tonight. Mr Jackson has reached the final of ITV1 gameshow Pokerface hosted by Ant and Dec after walking away with £50,000 in the heats. Now the 42-year-old
Residents are calling for a crackdown on bike crime after 20 thefts from a lock-up area. The management committee of Nuffield Court, in Bennett Crescent, Cowley, Oxford, has upgraded security at its bike sheds by installing special racks - but bicycles
TESCO is draining tanks at its Oxfordshire filling stations after dozens of motorists complained about breakdowns in the 'faulty fuel' fiasco. The supermarket giant announced the move last night after finding traces of silicon in unleaded petrol at several
I'M a Celebrity star and former Neighbours actor Jason Donovan said it was an "honour" to be asked to start this year's OX5 Run. The Australian actor/singer will be firing the starting pistol at this month's run and is also considering taking part.
When you talk about cricket-playing countries, the Italians don't immediately spring to mind. That's exactly what I thought when I got a surprising phone call a few weeks ago, to invite my club to a 20/20 style tournament 30 miles south of Milan in a
When you talk about cricket-playing countries, the Italians don't immediately spring to mind. That's exactly what I thought when I got a surprising phone call a few weeks ago, to invite my club to a 20/20 style tournament 30 miles south of Milan in a
Andy Burgess has the opportunity to show what he can do again today as Oxford United take on Stevenage Borough bidding to make it three wins in a row. Identified as one of the most gifted players in the Conference in the first three months of the season
Andy Webber rounds up the latest action around Oxfordshire Cowley angler Roger Buckingham has been trying for 30 years to catch a 20lb pike from the Thames, and now he's done it. Roger broke his duck with a specimen weighing exactly 21lb. The big
Bicester Community College kept their nerve to beat Burford 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out after their Oxfordshire Under 19 Cup second-round tie finished 2-2 at full-time. Ricky Bridges ran on to a pass from Darren White to give Bicester the lead, but hosts
Banbury & District Under 14s were left wondering how they ended up on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline against Stroud in the Vale Cup at Bicester Community College. Stroud took the lead with an early goal, and Banbury were then denied by a string of
Paul Cutler hit an unbeaten half-century to steer Banbury A to a thrilling one-wicket win over Great & Little Tew in Division 1 of the Banbury Indoor League. Chasing Tew's 116-4, Cutler made 51 not out as Banbury A clinched victory at 117-5 with an
Giles Sports Witney Youth League Sam Doherty and Luke Manning both bagged hat-tricks as Witney Vikings Youth cruised to an 8-0 victory over Kingston Colts in the Under 14 A League. Vikings didn't have it all their own way though, and the match was
Ladies' football Laura Peacock was the star of the show as her hat-trick helped Headington Athletic to a 4-1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers Res in Thames Valley League Division 2 North. The victory took Headington to within three points of the top
Banbury United ladies are planning a pamper and craft evening at the clubhouse in Station Approach to increase awareness of the team and attract new players and supporters. The event, on Friday March 9, at 7.30pm, will include a variety of pamper sessions
Oxford City triple jump star Nathan Douglas survived a scare to make it through to this afternoon's final at the European Indoor Championships in Birmingham as the best qualifier. The European outdoor silver medallist fouled on his first attempt and
Oxford trainer Dean Childs is planning a four-pronged assault on this year's £100,000 Greyhound Derby. Although it costs £300 to enter the sport's Blue Riband, which will take place at Wimbledon in June, Childs is entering Arthurs Joy, Target Harry,
Seven days after Oxford City Stars' stunning achievement of reaching the play-offs, it's back down to business tomorrow. Stars travel to Gillingham to play Invicta in the first of six play-off matches, which will culminate with the winners playing
Lewis Calcutt kept his cool to earn Witney A a thrilling success over Fieldside A in the final of the Jubilee Cup. Calcutt secured a snooker in the decisive frame against Fieldside's Paul Robinson to see Witney home by just two points on aggregate.
Oxfordshire Under 16s bowed out of the ESFA Premier League Inter County Trophy with a 5-1 defeat by Devon in the first national round at Exeter University. Although Devon ultimately ran out convincing winners they were flattered by the scoreline, with
Rob Hoskin bagged a brace as Vale of White Horse Under 15s beat Mid Oxon 4-2 in the Maurice Chalk Oxfordshire Cup semi-final at Milton United. Mid Oxon got off to a flier when poor marking allowed Sam Burton to score after only two minutes. But Vale
Abingdon Vale CC have several vacancies to fill before the start of the season. The Oxford Times Cherwell League side, who have teams in Divisions 2, 6 and 9, need a qualifed groundsman, umpires for Saturday League and Sunday friendlies as well as a
Oxford Mail Girls League April England was the star of the show as she hammered a six-timer to help Cholsey Bluebirds to a 7-0 victory over Carterton B in the Under 10 League Cup. England scored twice in the first ten minutes, with Chloe Merrison making
When you talk about cricket-playing countries, the Italians don't immediately spring to mind. That's exactly what I thought when I got a surprising phone call a few weeks ago, to invite my club to a 20/20 style tournament 30 miles south of Milan in a
A CHANGE in the weather is expected to set the stage for a spectacular total eclipse of the Moon tonight. It will be the first time the event has been visible from the UK since January 2001. Across Britain, thousands of people will watch as the silvery
OXFORD University has announced a new crackdown on the rowdy antics of students celebrating the end of their exams. The university has teamed up with police to draw up a new get-tough strategy on drinking and antisocial behaviour. The university's
SHERIFF of Oxford Susanna Pressel has praised NHS managers for a state-of-the-art cancer centre due to open next year. The Labour city councillor and former breast cancer sufferer was one of many patients to attend a topping-out ceremony to mark the
A DISCOVERY day will be held at the CS Lewis Nature Reserve, in Risinghurst, Oxford, tomorrow. During the event, which will take place between 2.30pm and 4.30pm, there will be opportunitities to visit the ponds, build some steps and learn more about
OXFORD may be one of the places furthest from the sea in England, but thanks to money raised by people in the city, 75 people were rescued off the coast last year. The lifeboat Oxford Town and Gown, based at Whitstable, in Kent, was bought with money
FARMOOR II reservoir has revised its stocking policy this season with larger rainbow trout being stocked. The 240-acre reservoir, west of Oxford, which opens for fishing on Saturday, March 10, will be stocking 30,000 rainbow and brown trout this season
LETTERS went on display at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, this week showing how author Kenneth Grahame created the characters from The Wind in The Willows. The 15 letters, which date from 1907, were written to Grahame's seven-year-old son, Alistair,
WANTAGE Leisure Centre and Didcot Wave Leisure Pool are still encouraging people to register for Swimathon 2007, in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. The event takes place between March 22 and 25. For more information, and to register, visit www.swimathon.org
