Royal Mail customers have been warned there will be further industrial action from tomorrow at the Oxford mail centre. The official stoppage at the Cowley sorting office will be followed by 24-hour strike action on Friday at delivery offices across the
Butchers have warned meat supplies could be affected if the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease becomes a full-blown epidemic. Despite news today that the transportation of livestock for slaughter could resume under special licence, many butchers
Union leaders in Oxfordshire are preparing to table a five per cent pay demand - and will use the recent flooding crisis as a bargaining tool. According to senior union sources, the forthcoming pay demand - which will be made on behalf of the thousands
Immigration officials are working hard to reduce the length of time foreign prisoners spend in Campsfield House and other removal centres, the Government has insisted. The Home Office, in an attempt to allay security fears following last weekend's breakout
Neighbours are demanding better security at Florence Park, in Oxford, to stop antisocial behaviour. The Friends of Florence Park and residents met councillors and officers from Oxford City Council to discuss a list of concerns. People living nearby
Detailed plans of how CCTV could help reduce crime and disorder in Cowley Road, Oxford, are to be considered by councillors next week. The report contains locations of where eight cameras could be put - and how much it would cost to run the scheme.
Jim Smith believes Oxford United will be better equipped, physically, this season to handle the demands of the Blue Square Premier. The U's boss, starting his second full season since returning to the club with chairman Nick Merry, immediately identified
Just back from two weeks abroad and I seem to have acquired a new baby somewhere through immigration control. This one stands up in her cot, pulls herself up on everything (including the dog) and laughs her head off when you say No! She is also inexplicably
OXFORD'S famous shark tomorrow celebrates 21 years of attracting curious glances and inquisitive visitors. However, with renovation work taking longer than initially anticipated, it looks like Headington's most famous landmark will not be making an
Last year's Oxford United top scorer, Rob Duffy, is convinced he'll be better equipped to last the whole of the season this time. The 24-year-old striker finished with 21 goals last term in his first full season at the club. But the former Stevenage
Oxford's famous shark tomorrow celebrates 21 years of attracting curious glances and inquisitive visitors. However, with renovation work taking longer than initially anticipated, it looks like Headington's most famous landmark will not be making an
Two sisters who walked down the aisle together to marry their sweethearts have celebrated 60 years of wedded bliss. Former Oxford headteacher Melville Summers, his wife Gwen, her sister Rose and her husband Ambrose Pope were married in Beaufort, Wales
Drivers are being warned that St Clement's in Oxford is closed for three weeks from tomorrow as work continues to improve the roads around The Plain. Oxfordshire County Council is carrying out a sequence of repairs to the High Street and The Plain.
Supermarket giant Tesco has lodged fresh plans to expand its Abingdon store and has promised to support town centre traders. The company sparked a storm of protest from local businesses after unveiling moves to expand the non-food side of its shop in
So, average UK house prices are set to smash the £300,000 barrier within five years, according to new research. And yet Oxfordshire County Council leader Keith Mitchell who has resisted all moves for housebuilding in the Green Belt on the edge of Oxford
A WOMAN posing as a carer stole cash after tricking her way into the home of a 92-year-old woman in Burford. Police said a couple called at a property in Oxford Road, on Tuesday, at about 3.30pm. The woman said she was a carer and stepped past the
Drivers have spoken of an "eye opening" experience after taking a course aimed at giving a harsh lesson to motorists who use mobile phones at the wheel. More than 170 drivers from Oxfordshire have been through a Call Divert course after being caught
It probably goes without saying, but York is a really old city. In fact, it's fair to say the place has history and heritage coming out of its ears. I'm only bringing this up now because it's pretty much the first thing that hits you when you arrive
Abingdon's Market Place - spruced up at a cost of £360,000 - is back in business. Market traders returned on Monday after being transferred to the Abbey Close car park last February. Jimmy James, chairman of the market traders' association, said:
Restaurant owner Clinton Pugh has failed in a bid to get the all-clear to demolish one of his restaurants and replace it with housing. Mr Pugh, who wants to build three townhouses and six flats in place of The Lemon Tree, in Woodstock Road, has said
Police and cycle shops are marking the cards of criminals thought to be behind the city's illegal bike trade. A Green Card system began in 1980 and eight of the city's main cycle shops were signed up. The scheme was relaunched at Beeline Bicycles
A harvested drugs factory was found by police during a raid in Cowley Road, Oxford, today. Police raided a house after the property's caretaker became suspicious of the tenants' behaviour. Officers found around 250 large and 100 small pots of cannabis
Until recently, squirrels in our back garden were a source of great amusuement as we fruitlessly devised Mensa-type tests to prevent them from stealing food put out for the birds. However, their numbers this year have dwindled almost to the point of
In response to Marie-Claire Gully-Hart's letter, Attacks on pets (Oxford Mail, July 17), the RSPCA would like to reiterate the message that dogs must be kept under control in public. Anyone found to be encouraging a dog to attack another creature, or
It is very unfair of ex-councillor Bill Buckingham to say that John Green "opposes everything connected with the police that could be an advantage on our estate - cameras, now the flat". (Oxford Mail, August 3). At the last south-east area committee
The executive member for rats, maggots and the plague has written you another of her biased letters (Oxford Mail, August 1). Kindly let me present the facts. The inhabitants of Blackbird Leys don't recycle rubbish - they leave tin cans, bottles and other
I checked the date - no, not April Fool's Day - so the headline, Plea to make ice rink a listed building (Oxford Mail, August 4) was true! This total monstrosity has been an eyesore for 23 years and now we know the man responsible - Sir Nicholas Grimshaw
A man whose life was saved by a new liver is heading to Thailand to compete in the World Transplant Games. Horspath resident Steve Whelan was facing death after picking up a rare infection in South America. He suffered jaundice and his life was at
Controversial plans to build a steel-framed multi-storey car park in Bicester look set to be approved today. Cherwell District Council's planning officers have backed the scheme despite opposition from residents. They said the "special circumstances
AEA Technology 117.75 BMW 2972 Electrocomponents 266 Isoft Group 65.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 150.5 Oxford Biomedica 46.5 Oxford Instruments 272.5 Reed Elsevier 611.75 RM 200.5 RPS Group 354.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
An East Oxford youth theatre group is set to celebrate its 45th anniversary by staging its most ambitious project yet. Thousands of children have been part of Oxford Youth Theatre, based at Pegasus Theatre in Magdalen Road, since it first began in 1962
The waiting is almost over for thousands of folk fans, with the gates opening on Thursday at one of the country's best-loved festivals - Cropredy. Starting 27 years ago as little more than a garden party, Cropredy has grown into one of the world's great
Creation Theatre's reincarnation of a medieval passion play certainly begins with a modern twist. Traditionally passion plays were often staged outdoors in the local market square, so Creation begin their production in Oxford's Market Square. No, not
'I'm offering you the chance to spread your wings into new horizons," drama teacher Ms Darbus (Karina Hilleard) tells her charges in Disney's High School Musical. The line couldn't be more appropriate. For High School Musical was this year's choice
The Penelopiad . . . or The Hanged Maids' Tale. This is Canadian writer Margaret Attwood's take on the Odyssey, offered in a collaborative production with Canada's National Arts Centre and with several Canadian actresses. Actresses. For this is an unwaveringly
The renaissance in singer-songwriters that has seen the likes of Amy Winehouse and K.T. Tunstall achieve success both sides of the Atlantic draws comparisons with the last heyday of this style in music, the early seventies. Among those talents was Steve
Townsfolk in Didcot will support more housing development, but only if the council provides better roads and public services. That was the opinion of the majority of those quizzed in a survey on attitudes towards the development of the town. About
A man who literally brought James Bond to Oxfordshire has died of suspected heart failure. John Gardner wrote 14 Bond novels from 1981 to 1995, following in the footsteps of authors Ian Fleming and Kingsley Amis in bringing the superspy to life for
Do the senior citizens of Oxford's twin city, Bonn, smile nostalgically as an oompah band strikes up Lili Marlene, 64 years later? I doubt it. Britain's fascination with the Second World War means the standard of period pieces tends to be high, and Blonde
Dave Wedge, the Oxford United groundsman who died suddenly on Saturday, was one of football's unsung heroes. A quiet man who never courted publicity nor sought praise, he was nevertheless fiercely proud of his work. Oxford United's pitch has always
Though it is hard to imagine any leading man expostulating "Goats and monkeys!" with a straight face, I maintain that there is no more accurate a measure of quality for a production of Othello. Eamonn Walker is more than equal to the task. A little dark
A new stage musical often proves to be a long-term work-in-progress, and so it will be, I think, with Jack. The creation of composer Robin Martin-Oliver and writer David Staines, the show offers a gripping account of the grisly murders carried out by
These are the faces of four of the escapees still on the run after fleeing from Campsfield House detention centre. The four men - who have served prison sentences for drugs offences and robbery - have been on the loose after escaping from the detention
A detainee has been arrested inside Campsfield House following a fire during which 26 men escaped. Police officers entered the detention centre near Kidlington at 2.35pm this afternoon. They arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of arson with intent
FIREFIGHTERS have praised a Good Samaritan who helped a family-of-five whose car overturned on the A4130 near Wallingford. Five people - two adults and three children - were injured when their Subaru Impreza crashed on the A4130 on Tuesday night.
POLICE today released pictures of four of the 11 men still on the run after escaping from Campsfield House, Kidlington, on Saturday. A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "Details of the 11 outstanding detainees have been circulated to all police
A DRUGS factory was discovered by police at a house in Cowley Road, Oxford. Officers raided the house yesterday after a tip-off from a caretaker who had become suspicious and found about 350 plant pots used for growing cannabis. But the plants had
A harvested drugs factory was found by police in a house in Cowley Road, Oxford, yesterday. Officers raided the house after a tip-off from a suspicious landlord and found around 350 plant pots used for growing cannabis. The plants had recently been
FIVE people were injured when a car crashed on the A4130 last night. The accident happened at 7.45pm on the stretch of road between Wallingford and Nettlebed. A spokesman for South Central Ambulance said the five passengers needed hospital treatment
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Police are still hunting 11 men who have been on the run from Campsfield House immigration centre for more than three days. Three of the 14 runaways were captured yesterday after searched of more than 20 homes across the country. But no more of the
Michael Standing and Arthur Gnohere signed on yesterday as Oxford United completed their squad for the new season. The two triallists had impressed in pre-season, and both players are now eligible for their Blue Square Premier campaign, which begins
Oxford Downs will have a home semi-final against Findon in the npower Village Cup if they win Sunday's last eight tie with Cresselly. Downs saw last week's first original clash postponed due to heavy rain, but will now fancy their chances with Cresselly
Oxford City romped to victory in their final meeting in Southern League Division 3 West to clinch promotion to Division 2 South in style on Saturday. City's crushing victory ensured they finished joint-top with Aldershot, although they were denied the
A century from Oxford all-rounder Graham Charlesworth could not prevent MCC from slipping to a seven-wicket defeat at Challow & Childrey. Charlesworth, who is also Oxford UCCE coach, made 139 in MCC's 246-4, but Challow romped home thanks to Nicholas
Radley's Chris Franks broke his own club record in the hammer to help his team to second place in their final Division 3 West meeting of the season at Tilsley Park. Club captain Franks launched the hammer 39.59m to win the A string event as Radley finished
Stadhampton will host a Malian representative XI in a charity fundraising match on Sunday, August 19. The game will support the Mali Development Group, an Oxford charity raising funds for water conservation projects in the west African country. Mali
Stephen Male stormed down the final 200 metres of the Chipping Norton course to claim the 20th Mota-vation title in the fourth race. A leading group of Male, Dan Merckel, last year's champion Steve Kimber and Gary Harris, broke away early on, but Harris
Former Afghan refugee Ali Morteza makes his Oxfordshire Development XI debut in their clash with Berkshire at Thatcham Town starting today. The Cumnor all-rounder is the only new face in the squad and manager Neil Pearson says they have been charting
Headington Roadrunner Gary Harris braved the sweltering heat to win the Hooky 6-mile road race on Sunday. He crossed the line in 32mins 51secs, seeing off Marcus Maxwell (Woodstock Harriers) and Paul Fernandez (Abingdon). John Atyeo won the vet 40
Five people were injured when a car crashed on the A4130 last night. The accident happened at 7.45pm on the stretch of road between Wallingford and Nettlebed. A spokesman for South Central Ambulance said the five passengers needed hospital treatment
Oxford batsman Simon Hole has been getting plenty of stick after taking over as Banbury's groundsman. But provided his pitches are up to scratch, he says he is happy to shrug off the banter. Hole, 23, has been working for his club's Oxfordshire rivals
OXFORD City tasted defeat for the first time in five pre-season outings when they lost 2-0 at home to Brackley Town at Court Place Farm last night. The home side went behind after six minutes when Danny Spencer converted a cross, and seven minutes
Minor Counties Championship Oxfordshire captain Ian Hawtin was left disappointed after their Western Division clash with Cheshire was abandoned as a draw yesterday with a full session remaining. Looking to preserve their top-of-the-table spot, Cheshire
One person has been issued with a caution as part of a police operation which brought knife arches to the city centre for the first time. About 1,000 people went through the search arches, similar to metal detectors used at airports, over two Friday
SCORES of people gave information to experts from the Environment Agency at a flooding surgery in Witney yesterday. Feedback from people affected by the floods was vital to help plan for the future, according to the agency's area flood risk manager
A BOAT stranded on the River Thames for more than two weeks was removed yesterday. The Hertford had been stuck under Folly Bridge in Oxford since a torrential downpour on Friday, July 20. It was trapped against the bank and a wall after a strong current
RESIDENTS living in Oxford have handed the Environment Agency a wish-list of measures they think would prevent a repeat of last month's flooding crisis. One of the ideas is a series of evening classes for people on how to properly prepare for the next
GREENE KING OXFORD & DISTRICT LEAGUE Premier & Section 1: White House A 3, Kidlington Spts B 0; George 3, New Club A 0; Star A 1, Gladiators A 2; Garsington Spts 2, Three Pigeons 1. Section 2: Plough 2, Woodman 1; Six Bells 0, Littlemore BL 3; Royal
LEAD-OFF man Tony Barrett fell just short of a magical maximum with 17 dolls to inspire Queens Head to a 3-0 win over Black Swan in Section 2 of the Greene King Oxford & District League, writes ANDY BEAL. He missed with his first stick - but then clanged
CHILDREN dressed as pirates and learned sea shanties during a holiday club organised by churches in the Cherwell Valley. The 38 youngsters, from Fritwell, Heyford, Ardley, Souldern and Somerton, near Bicester, made parrots and snakes during craft
YOUNG people gathered at the scene of a crash to pay tribute to two friends killed when their car hit a tree. The two young men have not been formally identified by police but tributes at the scene were made in the names of James McCabe, 21, and Adam
WITNEY'S annual motor show has been postponed until tomorrow. The show, now in its 41st year, attracts hundreds of dealers, as well as owners of classic and vintage cars, racing cars and motorbikes. It takes place in Henry Box Playing Fields, in Ducklington
OXFORD City Council looks set to take over the running of an ailing community centre in Cowley after its management association was plunged into financial chaos. The council is being asked to grant £46,307 to keep Cowley Community Centre, in Barns
THE dangers to farm animals of fly-tipped rubbish have been highlighted in BBC Radio 4 serial The Archers - with the help of Oxfordshire County Council. In the programme, four cows died after eating fly-tipped yew branches dumped in their field. Yew
A CHURCH minister has condemned vandals who trashed an art installation just hours after it had been completed by a local artist. James Grote, minister at John Bunyan Baptist Church in Crowell Road, Cowley, said he was shocked by the actions of vandals
GAVIN Bristow scored two wins in the Mini Challenge at Donington Park. Bristow, competing for the Oxford Associates Race Team made up of workers from Mini plant at Cowley, set some blistering times in Thursday's practice sessions and topped the timsesheets
IS your pet dog a natural performer? Does he or she resemble Snowy from the Tintin books by Hergé? If yes, your dog could be taking the lead in Oxford's 'Bone Idol' competition. The producers of Tintin, which will take to the stage of the Oxford Playhouse
A MEMORIAL fund set up by the parents of a girl killed in a road accident, has given £1,000 to the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. Sophie's Silver Lining Fund was founded in memory of Sophie Large, from Chacombe, near Banbury. Sophie died
A PROMISING linguist with an incurable brain disease choked to death while eating a Christmas dinner with her family, an inquest heard. Yumiko Boyle struggled to swallow a piece of roast beef. The 18-year-old was taken to Banbury's Horton Hospital,
ONE person has been issued with a caution as part of an operation which brought knife arches to Oxford city centre for the first time. About 1,000 people went through the search arches, similar to metal detectors used as part of airport security, over
THE secrets of stage fighting will be revealed at a special children's session at Oxford Castle, New Road. The Fight or Flight workshop is being run by Creation Theatre and is aimed at six to eight-year-olds. Youngsters will learn how to pull a punch
The Oxford Mail's Film Festival is in full swing and cinema lovers will tonight be able to enjoy cult science fiction flick Serenity. It is the third night of the festival and the curtain goes up at 8.30pm at the Phoenix Picture House, in Walton Street
Police have launched an investigation into allegations controversial peer The Marquess of Blandford racially abused an Oxford taxi driver. Thames Valley Police arrested and bailed the peer - who is heir to the Duke of Marlborough - on suspicion of racially
The Bishop of Oxford has offered support to the farming community of Oxfordshire in the wake of the latest foot and mouth outbreak to hit Britain. The Right Rev John Pritchard said: "My heart goes out to the farming community as they again face the
A woman who was five months' pregnant was killed in a head-on car crash by an American serviceman suffering from a sleeping disorder. Emma James died in the crash on the A420, near Buckland, three years ago tomorrow. Now a coroner has ruled she was unlawfully
