DRIVERS heading out of Oxfordshire faced long delays tonight after a pile-up closed the M40 in Buckinghamshire. Police said the crash, involving ten vehicles, had led to the closure of the southbound M40. The crash happened between Junction 2, the
HUNDREDS of people waving flags lined the streets of Abingdon to celebrate soldiers returning from Iraq. The 400 troops, based at the town's Dalton Barracks, won a big cheer as they marched into the Market Square today. Officers and soldiers from
Benefit cheat and Oxfordshire county councillor Olive McIntosh-Stedman has been expelled from the Labour Party. Last month, McIntosh-Stedman, 65, who represents Cowley and Littlemore, was convicted of dishonestly claiming council tax benefit and immediately
Hundreds of people waving flags lined the streets of Abingdon to celebrate soldiers returning from Iraq. The 400 troops, based at the town's Dalton Barracks, won a big cheer as they marched into the Market Square today. Officers and soldiers from
Hopes for a rail scheme to connect Oxford and Cambridge have been raised after the Government said it would consider workable proposals. Lord Bassam said a plan had to include a "proper business case", and be funded as the Government had not studied
Rat poison and traps have been flying off the shelves of a village DIY store. The brisk trade follows reports of infestation in a group of homes in Eynsham. But shopkeeper Robin Saunders says word has got round, and householders are rushing to stock
Cheats claiming to be disabled have forced Oxford's New Theatre to scrap its policy of letting carers in for free. The theatre said false claims and made up disabilities had become common place for sell-out shows, with people lying to get tickets.
An Audit Commission report warns that some councils may be unable to cope with a second flooding disaster. The commission supported calls from Oxfordshire councils for a review of how Government assistance was targeted. It warned: "Local authorities
A slice of £115m flooding relief grant from the EU should come to Oxfordshire, it was claimed today. The money, which needs to be rubber-stamped by the EU's budget authority, would be shared by the worst-hit areas of Britain. With the EU ready to
Oxford City Council has declared war on unwanted plastic carriers by offering ethically-traded cotton shopping bags for £1-a-go. The Town Hall, whose leader John Goddard said he wanted to outlaw the ubiquitous plastic shopping bag, launched the item
Point to-point racing in Oxfordshire breaks new ground this season with Dunthrop, near Chipping Norton, staging the first pre-Christmas meeting this Sunday. The Farmers Bloodhounds fixture has been allocated the new date following the closure of Mollington
Oxford Cheetahs promoter Allen Trump has started the search for a new site to stage speedway racing, writes ROBERT PEASLEY. For the last 59 years, speedway has run alongside greyhound racing at Oxford Stadium. But with the Greyhound Racing Association
Didcot Town boss Stuart Peace has told his players to forget about their midweek defeat at Godalming and get ready for their tough trip to Paulton Rovers tomorrow. Tuesday's 3-2 loss brought their 11-game undefeated run in Division 1 South & West to
THEATRE cheats claiming to be disabled have forced the New Theatre, Oxford, to abandon its policy of letting carers in free. The theatre says false claims and made-up disabilities are becoming commonplace for sell-out shows, with people lying to
A hair consultant has been charged with seven offences of sexual assault on women over the age of 16. Praminder Mankoo, 46, was charged and bailed today to appear at Oxford Magistrates' Court on December 27. The offences are alleged to have taken place
It would be nice to think that Oxford United could do to Tonbridge Angels what Southend did to them on Tuesday night. The U's were so comprehensively outplayed that the final result was never in doubt, the only question being how many goals the home
A MALE nurse who had sex with a teenage girl patient in hospital has been cleared of raping her. Fillipino-born Oliver Balicao broke down in tears in the dock as the jury of seven men and five women returned their verdict after more than seven hours
Cast members from the hit show Starlight Express took time out from rehearsals at Oxford's New Theatre to give next week's Santa's Little Film Club a boost. The club, at the OFS Studio in George Street, aims to provide a Christmas lifeline to harassed
A Christmas card designed by schoolgirl Bethany Brown will be going out with season's greetings from Witney MP and Conservative Party leader David Cameron. It was chosen as the winning design from hundreds entered in a competition from primary schools
Tonbridge Angels may average only 350-400 for home games in the Ryman Premier League, but the little Kent town are hoping to bring around 500 fans to tomorrow's FA Trophy tie at the Kassam Stadium. And chairman Nick Sullivan is dreaming of causing an
The Oxford United Girls Centre of Excellence has been one of the club's major success stories this season. The centre runs teams from under 10s through to under 16s and all the teams are doing well. The under 16s, who play in the East region of their
An Oxford institution, so it's all the more surprising that this restaurant hasn't opened before on the Big Day itself, writes Jeremy Smith. This year, however, the aberration has been rectified and Browns will be throwing open its double doors for
The epitome of gastropubbery in Oxford, The Fishes is offering a pre-Christmas menu with a bit of a twist, writes Paul Stammers. The pub - which won a mention in the latest Michelin Pub Guide, and has been praised by celebrity chef Raymond Blanc - is
United's coaching staff and management will probably see how young keeper Sam Warrall fares in a practice match in training next week before deciding whether to throw him in at Aldershot next Saturday. The Setanta Shield fourth-round tie at the Recreation
This is probably the most economical place to enjoy a hearty Yuletide nosh-up, writes Paul Stammers. The restaurant is charging £17.50 per person for a selection of cold cuts, olives, dips and breads as starters; A trio of festive sausages (turkey and
A chain, but one that's quite stylish and doing its bit to be eco-friendly. And wouldn't seafood makes a refreshing change from boring old turkey at this time of the year? The Christmas menu includes rope-grown mussels, ham hock terrine or peppered
The undisputed daddy of the swanky places to eat in central Oxford, it's difficult to imagine many folk shelling out £70 to eat here on Christmas Day. Should you do so, the selection includes a cocktail of scallops, lobster and langoustines followed
Oxford University's latest figures have shown an increase in student applications and acceptances from ethnic minority backgrounds. The university has just published its latest figures for entry to undergraduate courses in 2007. Last month, US civil
Rail passengers in Oxford are stepping up their campaign for London-bound commuter fares to be frozen in January. Last month First Great Western announced that regulated fares to London, which include weekly and annual season tickets, would rise by
More than a band, Gogol Bordello are a force of nature. No-one comes close to capturing that blistering brew of Balkan folk, Russian rock, Roma rhythm and utterly random spontaneity that is their signature sound. The self-styled Gypsy Punks fill
Every Christmas, there are certain films which perfectly embody the festive spirit. Whether it's a small boy flying through the air with an animated snowman, Alastair Sim's Scrooge realising the error of his ways, Bing Crosby dreaming of a White Christmas
People queued up at Oxford University's Bodleian Library to see historic copies of Magna Carta on display for the first time in 800 years. The library holds three of the original documents from 1217 and one from 1225, issued in the reign of King Henry
A WITNEY couple are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary on Saturday with a good old-fashioned meal - fish and chips and cups of tea. Bob and Marjorie Loveday are holding back for a full celebration until Christmas, when their family will be
A couple of years ago, a bunch of laid-back Californians hit upon the idea of creating the perfect pop record. After struggling for years in the rock underground, they clawed together $5,000 and recorded debut album Bright Idea, which went on to sell
Thirteen might be unlucky for some, but not for Ken and Vera Hester. They were married on December 13, 1947, and celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary today. Mrs Hester said: "It was a lucky day for me. We had to wait until Ken came out of
Pupils on an Oxford estate have been strutting their stuff to raise funds for a children's cancer charity. Since June, primary pupils at 23 schools, including Pegasus Primary and Orchard Meadow Primary, have been taught salsa by George Martini. Now
Under-pressure train operator First Great Western is still one of the least punctual in the country, according to new figures. FGW, which has faced a barrage of criticism from Oxfordshire passengers over its new timetable this week, was the last but
Dean Smith is set to make his Witney United debut - at the fourth time of asking - for their trip to AFC Wallingford. The former Bicester Town defender has had to wait as Witney have had three matches called off in a row due to bad weather. Jimmy
A 'heart-broken' husband paid tribute to his wife who was killed in a motorway pile-up. Mother-of-two Helen Kelly, 39, of Sturt Road, Charlbury, died after a crash on the M40 involving two lorries and five cars. Today her husband Don Kelly released
AEA Technology 78.5 BMW 2946 Electrocomponents 209.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 124 Oxford Biomedica 21.75 Oxford Catalyst 148.5 Oxford Instruments 199 Reed Elsevier 622.25 RM 201.25 RPS Group 300.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
PART of the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, was evacuated this afternoon after a fire. Oxfordshire ambulance service was called to the scene at 12.40pm after receiving the alert from the fire service. An ambulance spokesman said: "It looks like people
VIOLENT muggers attacked two men while walking through an Oxford park. The gang of three men hit a 39-year-old man on the back of the head with a metal bar as he walked on a footpath from Frys Hill towards Spindleberry Nature Park, in Blackbird Leys
Violent muggers have attacked two men while walking through an Oxford park. The gang of three men hit a 39-year-old man on the back of the head with a metal bar as he walked on a footpath from Frys Hill towards Spindleberry Nature Park, in Blackbird
The John Radcliffe Hospital was evacuated this afternoon after a fire broke out. Oxfordshire ambulance service was called to the scene at 12.40pm after receiving the alert from the fire service. An ambulance spokesman said: "It looks like people have
Australian flanker Chris Alcock plays his final game for Oxford Harlequins in tomorrow's home South West 1 clash with Weston-super-Mare (2pm). Alcock, who has been working at the Dragon School, Oxford, has made a big impact this season, so will look
A celebrity cook book compiled by a village pre-school attracted recipes from top chefs, local MP Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The 250-issue print run sold out within hours of going on sale in Benson. All the money made from copies
Budding chefs went bananas - showing off their cookery skills to celebrity chef Raymond Blanc. The children, from Great Milton Primary School, rustled up sweet delights for the famous French chef, which he tucked into at his restaurant Le Manoir aux
Henley Hawks will seek their first ever win at the Rectory Ground when they travel to Redruth in National 2 tomorrow. Skipper Stean Williams returns after a three-week absence, but fellow flanker Matt Payne has an eye injury, which will keep him out
Citizens concerned about the growth of Costa Coffee should note that Costa Coffee in Summertown, Oxford, is displaying Happy 1st Birthday signs all over its premises. But don't worry, they are not celebrating the birthday of one of its toddler customers
I worry sometimes about how low the intelligence must be of those who state that 'colour' must be one of the leading criteria for admission to universities (Oxford Mail, November 15). Universities are for the expansion of learning and intelligence and
Oxfordshire County Council makes great play on its website on how much it cares for the environment, yet it pursues policies that actively damage it. Most urban roads in the county have become obstacle courses, with chicanes, humps, bumps, poorly lit
The classical music world is not renowned for being particularly wacky, but it does have its fair share of zany moments and colourful characters, as Frances Farrer and Brian Levison discovered when they started digging around behind the scenes. The result
Peter Schofield retired to Oxford after a career as a scientist. His book, The Enjoyment of Opera (Serendipity, £11.95) is a collection of provocative essays about his other great love - opera and its performance
A HUSBAND today paid tribute to his wife who died in a crash on the M40. Helen Kelly, 39, of Charlbury, a mother of two boys, died on November 29 following a crash involving five cars, an articulated lorry and a heavy goods vehicle in Buckinghamshire
Like her acclaimed The Woman in Black, Susan Hill's The Man in the Picture (Profile, £9.99) is a gothic tale that reveals dark shadows lurking beneath ordinary life. One bitter winter's night, Oliver visits his old tutor in his Cambridge rooms. He tells
Some sumptuous productions are hitting the shelves this Christmas, which are clearly designed to go straight to the top of aunty's festive list. More from Unmitigated England by Peter Ashley (£18.99, Adelphi), a sequel to Unmitigated England, won't fit
A photograph of the Thames at Abingdon was taken by Eric de Maré just after the Second World War, while hats were still de rigeur on a summer's day. It is one of 24 images collected by English Heritage for The Thames Through Time (£5.99), a book which
Oxfordshire 2nd came back from 3-1 down to pip Gloucestershire 2nd 8-7 in Division 3B of the Inter-County Championships at Bartholomew School, Eynsham. They took five of the eight level doubles and two of three mixed, with Jon Campbell, Paul Casey and
Retail tracking company Experian is reporting a jittery start to the Christmas rush. The company's Footfall survey reports that high street sales were down 7.5 per cent nationally last Saturday compared to the equivalent day last year, and 1.6 per cent
Is it my imagination, or are fewer people wearing gloves these days? Tuesday morning was cold - so cold that even I regretted not bringing a pair to Oxford. Yet on a simple observation, I reckon only one person in seven was wearing anything on their hands
A FIRE engine was involved in a collision with two cars in Abingdon today, closing one of the town's major routes. Police shut Marcham Road after the crash at 9.30am, at the roundabout joining the entrance road to Tesco. The fire engine was responding
A FIRE engine was involved in a collision with two cars in Abingdon today, prompting police to close one of the town's major routes. Police closed Marcham Road following the crash at 9.30am, at the roundabout joining the entrance road to Tesco. The
CHRIS KOENIG joined the queues for a peep into a Tudor Christmas on view at at the Bodleian Library Apt somehow that the first manuscript on view at this year's Bodleian exhibition, on the theme of a Tudor Christmas, should be a Book of Hours
VAL BOURNE dreams not of film stars but of where to plant next spring I'm sure most ladies in their middle years lie awake dreaming of George Clooney or Johnny Depp. But I lay awake tussling with vegetable rotation and where to plant what next
THERESA THOMPSON hears some of the world's experts debate the threats to the world's ecosystems - from the polar regions to the wetlands of Oxfordshire Despite a poll showing that nearly a quarter of British adults were bored with eco news',
Scientists at an Oxford biotech firm are hoping to make a breakthrough in the search to find an effective treatment for Parkinson's Disease. Trials on the ProSavin gene therapy product, which has been developed by Oxford Biomedica based at the Oxford
A Christmas Carol and The Magic Flute are given exciting African treatments at The Young Vic, writes A. S. H. SMYTH Both these stories are about the progression from Ignorance and Want (as Dickens had it) to Understanding and Fulfilment. These
AEA Technology 82 BMW 2978 Electrocomponents 212.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 124 Oxford Biomedica 22.25 Oxford Catalyst 147.5 Oxford Instruments 200 Reed Elsevier 621.5 RM 201 RPS Group 309.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
NICOLA LISLE talks to Opera Anywhere founders Mike and Vanessa Woodward about Arias on Ice, which is coming to the Oxford Ice Rink later this month The ice may be cold, but the grand finale to Opera Anywhere's Christmas season promises to be a
GILES WOODFORDE talks to the musical director of Starlight Express "They should be seen and not heard," goes the old adage about children. But for the band in Andrew Lloyd Webber's roller-racing musical Starlight Express, the proverb is turned
I was surprised to see the Sunday Times referring this week to the Duchess of Cornwall as "Camilla Parker Bowles". Had Style's sub-editor's forgotten her rather well-publicised appointment at the altar in April 2005 with the Prince of Wales? The reference
With some satisfaction I learned this week that I had done my bit to preserve the architectural integrity of one of Oxford's more interesting and distinguished buildings. In short, I have been able to get a pair of satellite dishes removed from the walls
'I am just full of the Christmas spirit and I bring tidings of comfort and joy." Thus spake the slightly-less-than-angelic presenter of Nigella Express (BBC2) as her latest series dragged to its self-parodying end with an episode inventively titled "Season's
I never went into Merton's Bar at the Eastgate Hotel in Oxford's High Street - and, judging by what I could see through its windows, neither did anyone else. Now a costly renovation by owners Mercure has transformed it into up-market restaurant called
This year I intend to serve beer on Christmas Day as well as champagne. But not any old beer - this beer has broken the £10 price barrier, retailing as it does at £12.99. Yes £12.99! - and I have friends who say that it's going for even more than that
Mince pies were originally made in a stiff inedible pastry cases called coffins, which were shaped like a crib and acted as a dish. Those early mince pies contained meat, mutton mostly, which was mixed with dried fruits and spices. The crib shape was
Every Christmas, there are certain films which perfectly embody the festive spirit. Whether it's a small boy flying through the air with an animated snowman, Alastair Sim's Scrooge realising the error of his ways, Bing Crosby dreaming of a White Christmas
Two films this week centre on men with guns. Neither quite works. Yet each has a quirky ingenuity that makes it watchable if never compelling and both boast strong performances by their seemingly mismatched romantic leads. Tempering the foul-mouthed
Immediate comments at the end of this evening at the Spin included "one of the best gigs ever" and from an articulate member of the audience the one word "joyous". Curiously, neither pianist John Donaldson nor saxophonist Art Themen (both pictured), have
To sample this bizarre collector's item I braved the draughty art deco cavern of the Apollo in Hammersmith on a frosty night, sitting throughout without removing my coat and scarf. Happily, a great blast of warmth emanated from the stage, and the source
It's not often that you see a horsebox and a donkey conveyance parked outside the New Theatre. But Ellen Kent, that indefatigable importer of Eastern European opera and ballet companies, also loves animals. So in her production of Carmen, a donkey appears
If you enjoy formulaic pop, packed full of electronic gimmicks and distorted vocals then look no further than Kylie's new album X (Parlophone). This is an album of songs made to be heard at clubs or through those hyperactive bass-heavy sound systems
Tomahawk's new production of Much Ado About Nothing is further proof, if any were needed, that it was Shakespeare, not Jane Austen, who originated the genre now known as romantic comedy. Returning from war to their home in Messina, two contrasting love-starved
It's refreshing to walk into an exhibition and discover a diversity of works by one artist, rather than a collection which appear to be just reworks of the same theme. The 41 mixed-media and acrylic paintings in Jon Rowland's show in the gallery at Oxford's
Princess Ida is the latest production of Kennington and District Church Choirs, who have produced concert versions of Gilbert and Sullivan twice a year since 1979. The formula is simple: a 50-strong chorus in costume seated en masse behind the front row
Eclectica! bring a whole new meaning to the words string quartet. The Oxford jazz guitar duo of Pete Oxley and Luis D'Agostino have replaced the accustomed second violin and the viola in this project that presents a special Christmas concert at the Holywell
Having battled through a blustery evening to reach a carol concert in the candle-lit calm of Dorchester Abbey, it was good to hear John Betjeman's words about "branches bending to the gale". His poem, Advent 1955, was delivered in the sonorous tones of
Marios Popadopoulos chose demanding works for the core of this recital - pieces which test the performer's technical and musical abilities. His readings were thoughtful and persuasive and he left the audience in no doubt of his physical mastery of the
Tom Woolner, who is exhibiting his work at the OVADA Gallery, Gloucester Green, until January 19, is not to be mistaken for Thomas Woolner, sculptor, poet and founder-member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood - he was a 19th-century man. Tom Woolner
Malorie Blackman's hugely popular children's novel Noughts and Crosses has obvious, if not over-stated, parallels with Romeo and Juliet. Here again are two young lovers from the opposite sides of a yawning divide - a family feud of a sort once more, though
MOST primary schools in Oxford have this year opted to stage modern versions of Christmas plays with less of a religious element. Gone is the annual dilemma of which children will play Mary and Joseph and parents dressing child shepherds in old bed
DEVELOPER Spring Residential is to appeal against a decision by Oxford city councillors to reject its plans for a four-storey block of flats on the site of the former Castle Mill boatyard, in Jericho. Spring spokesman Rebekah Paczek said: "I can confirm
AN Oxford cancer patient given a year to live has won the right to have a life-prolonging drug following a three-month battle with NHS managers. Stephen Dallison is celebrating after Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust reversed its decision to deny him
Oxford United boss Darren Patterson says he will clamp down on any player who shows a lack of discipline after a catalogue of cards in their FA Cup replay defeat at Southend. As well as losing the game 3-0, the U's had six players booked and the number
A BANBURY couple who wanted to adopt an orphan in Thailand, found it impossible to choose one from the hundreds available at the orphanage they visited. So they decided to adopt them all. Roger and Kym Garnett went to Thailand in 2005 with the idea
YOUNG artists proved inspired by an Oxford competition to come up with some ugly work. Their ideas impressed judges for Oxford University - and are about to be transformed into new gargoyles for the historic Bodleian Library. The nine winners of the
A MULTI-FAITH celebration attracted more than 200 people from across Oxford. Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and Christians gathered at Cheney School in Headington for the celebration of light and faith, organised by the Indian Union in Oxford. Lord
A QUAD bike is believed to have been ridden around the Chipping Norton bowls club green, churning the turf into mud. Club president John Quinn said: "It's deliberate, malicious damage. It looks as if the whole green has been run over by someone on a
SHOPMOBILITY, which provides scooters and wheelchairs for disabled shoppers, has extended its opening hours on Thursdays during December. The service will operate until 8pm. Shopmobility is open between 9.30am and 4pm Monday to Saturday in the Westgate
Many of us have fond memories of school Nativity plays, as parents and children. Some of today's end-of-term productions seem far removed from those of yesteryear when an old bed cloth, tea towel and length of rope were used to knock up a shepherd's
A Kidlington schoolboy wants people to splash out on his book about a dolphin to raise funds for Save the Children. Umair Shahid, 10, from Oxford Road, thought up the story after visiting his grandmother in Turkey in the summer. Now his parents, Rowena
OXFORDSHIRE County Council's chief executive is to be the new chairman of the board of governors at Oxford Brookes University. Joanna Simons will replace Tim Stevenson, who will be leaving in the autumn after four years in the post. She said: "I have
KEY coils to deter pickpockets are to be handed out tomorrow in Witney and Carterton. The district's Community Safety Partnership has embraced the scheme after a successful launch in Bicester. Giles Sports in Carterton is providing 500 coils free.
FAMILIES in North Oxford have created a real-life Advent calendar to build a more close-knit community in the run-up to Christmas. Each night, from December 1 until December 23, families have been volunteering to host an evening of carols and Christmas
A HOUSE in Merton Street, Banbury, may have to be demolished after it was built in the wrong colour brick. Cherwell District Council's north area planning committee will meet today to decide the fate of the nearly-finished two-storey building in the
ABINGDON will be able to say thank you to 400 Army troops today as they celebrate their safe return from Iraq. Officers and men from the 3 Logistic Support Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps based at Dalton Barracks will march from the town's fire
Most primary schools in Oxford have this year opted to stage modern versions of Christmas plays with less of a religious element. Gone is the annual dilemma of which children will play Mary and Joseph and parents dressing child shepherds in old bed
Angry traders in Oxford's Covered Market claim their businesses are under threat at the prospect of a major rent increase. Businesses in the historic market are complaining the number of shoppers has fallen because of the economic slowdown, competition
Oxford speedway is on the brink of closure, writes ROBERT PEASLEY. Talks have broken down between stadium owners, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA), and speedway promoter Allen Trump regarding a lease for next season - and it looks like stock cars
