AUTOMATIC promotion is looking a distant dream for Oxford United after they lost 2-0 to Forest Green Rovers on Saturday, slipping to only their second home defeat of the season. After four straight Nationwide Conference wins and improved performances
FIREFIGHTERS from across Oxfordshire battled a blaze at a thatched cottage in Fawler, near Wantage. Almost 100 firefighters from 14 stations were called at about 10.15pm yesterday as flames ripped through the roof. The fire, thought to have started
Well we have decided on one of our entries for the ODN festival this summer. Mediocrity by Anton Robert Krueger is a one-act play with six characters. This comedy, with its exaggerated, absurd characters, borrows elements from commedia Del' arte and the
Oxford United's hopes of catching Nationwide Conference leaders Dagenham were dealt a massive blow as they crashed to a shock 2-0 home defeat against Forest Green Rovers. The Gloucestershire outfit struck twice at corners, in the 45th and 58th minutes
Save Radley Lakes campaigners staged a peaceful protest today in the battle against RWE npower's plans to dump fuel ash into Thrupp Lake. About 250 supporters gathered at Abingdon Guildhall at lunchtime to voice their objections to the power firm's
Oxford East MP Andrew Smith will be the Labour Party candidate in the constituency at the next General Election. Local party members backed Mr Smith to campaign for another term as MP at an annual general meeting of the Oxford and District Labour Party
Capital Shopping has cleared the final hurdle in its efforts to revamp Oxford's Westgate Centre. Legal agreements between the company and Oxford City Council were signed earlier this week. The target date for completion is autumn, 2011. The extension
The Prime Minister's wife Cherie Blair asked for a media blackout last night when she addressed students at the Oxford Union. Mrs Blair, whose professional name is Cherie Booth, was due to speak in her capacity as a human rights QC for the legal firm
THERE is a chance that the Conference play-off final could be at the new Wembley. Conference operations director John Moules has hinted at the possibility of a third non-League clash at the 90,000 super-stadium. The finals of the FA Vase and the
Firefighters from across Oxfordshire battled a blaze at a thatched cottage in Fawler, near Wantage, last night. Almost 100 firefighters from 14 stations were called at about 10.15pm last night as flames ripped through the roof. The fire, thought to
A new £4.7m science centre will be built at a Didcot school - and will showcase some innovative technology of its own. The centre, at St Birinus School, will be the first Oxfordshire County Council building to harness the earth's energy to heat rooms
A plan to build a skatepark in a recreation ground in East Oxford hit the buffers after residents protested at the proposed location. The Oxford Wheels Project, which has run a skatepark in Meadow Lane, East Oxford, for the past decade, hoped to open
Consultants hired by Oxford City Council are being put up at the £160-a-night Malmaison, the authority has confirmed. Private company Vanguard has been brought in to help "provide excellent customer service across the council", but some consultants
High water levels which saw parts of the River Thames towpath in Oxford flooded and impassable are expected to start receding over the weekend. The Environment Agency said the river had reached its peak at 2am yesterday morning and remained high throughout
Capital Shopping has cleared the final hurdle in its efforts to revamp Oxford's ageing Westgate Centre. Legal agreements between the company and Oxford City Council were signed earlier this week. The target date for completion is autumn, 2011. The
Three teenagers are sleeping rough in an Oxford graveyard to experience being homeless for a night. Cherwell School students Lucy Bale, 15, Naomi Zetter, 14, and Joanna Furtado, 15, are braving the cold, damp and creepy location next week, to give themselves
Minicab driver Maniique Miah thought he could escape fines for speeding by lying and blaming other drivers, including his wife. Instead the 42-year-old is now starting a 60-day jail sentence after his deceit was exposed. Yesterday, police said motorists
A sadistic killer who savagely beat up his estranged partner before drowning her in the bath could be free in less than three years, a judge ruled. John Puffett, 39, of Valentia Road, Headington, Oxford, was convicted at Oxford Crown Court in July 1995
Neighbours living next to a McDonald's restaurant are angry at plans to open until 5am. Householders living near the restaurant, in Botley Road, Oxford, have written to the Vale of White Horse District Council saying it would be excessive. The company
Housebound pensioner Brian Milthorp found himself saddled with a lodger from hell when he offered free accommodation to anyone who would help look after him. Mr Milthorp, 73, who is partially sighted and confined to an electric wheelchair, never dreamed
This year's Blenheim Triathlon looks to set to be an event to remember with organisers already receiving more than 3,300 entries. This time last year, about 2,000 people had signed up for the swimming, cycling and running competition, which is due to
A bird's nest could delay a power company's plans for draining Thrupp Lake at Radley near Abingdon until summer. The old gravel pit is at the centre of a fierce row about using it for dumping spent fuel ash from Didcot Power Station. The delay has
A paramedic who was bitten by a drunken thug yesterday pleaded for more help to protect life-saving emergency crews. Matthew Luker called on Judge Mary Jane Mowat to crackdown as his attacker was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. Daniel Howard
Cricket lovers will turn their attention to the Caribbean for the next seven weeks to cheer on their team in the World Cup. Sixteen nations will be vying for the trophy, and it is expected there will be hundreds of brightly coloured shirts around the
More than 4,000 county council workers are threatening to walk out on strike as they "stand and fight" against cuts in care assistants' pay. Unison, the trades union representing Oxfordshire County Council staff, last night said it was preparing to
A PARAMEDIC who was bitten by a man has called for more help to protect emergency crews. Matthew Luker called on Judge Mary Jane Mowat to crack down as his attacker was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court yesterday. Daniel Howard, 39, of St Martin's
Jim Smith believes Oxford United are now better equipped to win home matches - because they've learnt how to attack the open west end at the Kassam Stadium with as much venom as the packed Oxford Mail Stand. The U's drew seven of their first 15 home
Forest Green's former Oxford United midfielder Paul Wanless is ruled out of a playing return to the Kassam Stadium today by a long-term back injury, but will be on the bench because he is their assistant manager. In 2005, 'Wanny' couldn't say goodbye
Eynsham had double cause for celebration as the A and B teams lifted the Bint and New Team Cups with victories against Abingdon Con A and Littlemore RBL A respectively. But the A team did it the hard way fighting back before triumphing 3-2 against the
Oxford University retained the Truelove Bowl with a pulsating 5-4 victory over Cambridge in the 100th Varsity Match at London's York Hall. The famous bethnal Green venue was packed to the rafters for the historic event and the crowd were treated to
A NESTING bird could delay a power company's plans for draining Thrupp Lake, at Radley, until summer. The old gravel pit is at the centre of a dispute about using it for dumping spent fuel ash from Didcot Power Station. The delay has been welcomed
Oxford Cheetahs co-promoter Aaron Lanney expressed his delight at the return of Ales Dryml to speedway action at a sunny Oxford Stadium yesterday. He said: "Just eight months ago I was standing in the middle here in tears as Ales was lying unconscious
Italian businessman Max Picinelli is providing major sponsorship for Oxford this year. He is to continue to back the Oxford Maiden Trophy and will also sponsor an attractive major marathon competition over 845 metres. Picinelli, who has dogs with
Andy Webber rounds up the latest on the local scene There's only four days to go before the end of the coarse fishing river season, but whether any of us will get the chance to wet a line is doubtful. Although the weather has been very mild, it hardly
Leaders Banbury suffered a jolt in their quest for the Banbury & District League Division 1 title after losing by three wickets to strugglers King's Sutton. Chasing 100-3, Banbury were bowled out for 67 in 8.3 overs as they went down to their first
Oxford City Stars are sweating on the fitness of Ben Moody ahead of tomorrow night's South Division play-off meeting at home to Kent Invicta (6pm). Coach Darryl Morvan is already without flu victims Lukas Szabo and Chris Eames so will be anxious to
Summertown Stars' Daisy Tuckwell hammered an incredible eight-timer to help her side to a 10-0 victory over Kennington in the Oxford Mail Under 12 C League. It was one of those days when everything went right for Summertown, and they were seven goals
Gareth Price was the hat-trick hero for Chipping Norton Town Swifts as they saw off Eynsham Youth 5-3 in a thrilling Giles Sports Witney Youth Under 14 A League clash. Eynsham were 3-1 up at half-time, before Price's treble, plus a brace from Ollie
OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE (Sponsored by 434 Enterprises Ltd) (Beer legs in brackets) Section A: George 4 (1), Vikings Sports 5 (2); Masons 8 (2), Nelson 1 (1); Folly Bridge A 5 (0), Catherine Wheel A 4 (3); Black Swan 3 (2), Fairview 6 (1). Section
With less than a month to go until this year's Boat Race, the Oxford crew are doing all they can to ensure they are in top condition to defend their title. And to help them, they have been working with Oxford osteopath and sports medicine expert John
North Kidlington Primary School enjoyed a clean sweep in a hockey festival at Gosford Hill, Kidlington. Run by 14 and 15-year-old students from Gosford Hill, the tournament was for seven to nine-year-old primary school youngsters from North Kidlington
A MAN run over by a forklift truck on a construction site at the Oxford Science Park is still receiving hospital treatment. The accident happened on March 2 at Bower & Kirkland, on the science park near Grenoble Road, Greater Leys, at about 8.20am.
A PROPANE gas cylinder is thought to be the cause of an explosion at Oxford's Royal Mail sorting office. Investigators from Oxford City Council's environmental health team have been working with firefighters on the investigation into the explosion at
CRUMBLING roads and mounds of litter are just two reasons residents on the Rose Hill estate, Oxford, feel they are being ignored by the city council. Litter along the Eastern Bypass between the Heyford Hill and Rose Hill roundabouts feature high on
THE Farmoor Reservoir Pontoon Project to help make sailing more accessible for disabled people is seeking a grant of £10,000 from the Vale of White Horse District Council. The total cost of the project is £200,000. More than £70,000 has been raised.
SCHOOLS across the county are being urged to take part in skipping workshops which raise funds for the British Heart Foundation while keeping pupils fit. Schools taking part can keep 25 per cent of the money they raise. Teachers interested in registering
Melbourne, Australia - March 18 Sepang, Malaysia - April 8 Bahrain - April 15 Barcelona, Spain - May 13 Monte Carlo, Monaco - May 27 Montreal, Canada - June 10 Indianapolis, USA - June 17 Magny-Cours, France - July 1 Silverstone, Great Britain
SANTA Pod Raceway launches its 2007 drag racing season with the Auto Trader Easter Thunderball event. From April 6 to 9, the UK's fastest venue plays host to a motorsport extravaganza with the fastest, craziest cars and bikes from around the world
AS part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, Abingdon Concert Band will be performing a "Thank You for the Music" concert at the Baptist church in Ock Street on Saturday, March 17, at 7.30pm. The programme will include music from the 1970s and from
DAMON Hill has revealed the future of the British Grand Prix is again "hanging in the balance". Silverstone's contract to host an event that has been on the Formula One calendar since 1950 expires after the race in 2009. Beyond that is unclear, especially
RESIDENTS of Osney Island, Oxford, were due to take part in a tree planting ceremony in East Street this morning, to replace the 11 canalside willows felled last year by Oxford City Council because of health and safety fears. The Lord Mayor of Oxford
THE Miss Oxford competition is being held in early May. Up to 40 local girls will be selected to participate in the final, with one winner being crowned Miss Oxford to represent the town at the Miss England 2007 finals for a chance to compete in Miss
A TEAM of intrepid cricketers from Didcot will be playing on a very slippery wicket later this month. The players, from Milton Park-based publishers Taylor and Francis, are competing in an Ice Cricket tournament on a frozen lake in Estonia in aid of
