Archive

  • River Thame on Flood Watch

    The River Thame and Chalgrove Brook were today placed on Flood Watch. The alert, the lowest level of alert issued by the Environment Agency, applies to the river from Marsworth to Shillingford including, Long Marston, Rowsham, Cuddington, Thame, Shabbington

  • Alonso masters Spa conditions

    Fernando Alonso proved to be a man for all seasons after topping the timesheet in practice for the Belgian Grand Prix in both the wet and dry. The 90-minute morning session was blighted by heavy rain and dark skies, the conditions so bad that

  • Bank Holiday warning for motorists

    Millions of people hoping to beat the Bank Holiday hordes by setting off at the crack of dawn should perhaps think again - experts predict the roads will be at their worst on Saturday morning. Congestion, which began to build up on major routes

  • Festival melodies at heart of town

    A MUSIC festival comes to the heart of Woodstock this weekend. Woodstock Live features 20 artists performing in the Town Square. Starting at noon tomorrow, the free festival will kick off with a rendition of Pink Floyd’s The Wall – to celebrate this

  • Speed camera turn-off 'puts bikers at risk'

    ROAD safety experts have criticised Oxfordshire County Council for failing to take account of traffic accident figures before switching off Oxfordshire’s 72 speed cameras. County Hall announced it was withdrawing £600,000 of funding for speed cameras

  • Match day patrols: Police keep tabs on the troublemakers

    FOOTBALL spotters are warning troublemakers they are being watched as the U’s return to the league gets under way. Forty two police officers from Oxford and High Wycombe were out in force last Saturday for Oxford United’s away game against

  • Local share prices

    AEA Technology 18 BMW 3381 Electrocomps 209.4 Nationwide Accident Repair 84.5 Oxford Biomedica 8.8 Oxford Catalyst 72 Oxford Instruments 345 REED 520 RM 131.25 RPS Group 169.5 Courtesy Redmayne Bentley

  • Teacher's bright idea has French taped

    TEACHER Monica Hyde knew music helped pupils learn French, but was frustrated that there weren’t enough good songs around. So she decided to write her own, helped by her professional composer husband John. And after road-testing her work on pupils at

  • Crash closes A34

    THE A34 has been closed northbound near Didcot after a four-vehicle pile up. Police were called just before 3.15pm to reports of a crash involving three cars and a lotry near as the Chilton interchange. Three people suffered minor injuries, including

  • GREYHOUNDS: Friday BAGS results

    11.03: 1 KEREIGHT GOLD 6-1, 2 Eagle Hi Evens fav. (1x6x5). Trainer: Massey. Time: 27.86. 11.19: 1 BARN OWL 8-1, 2 Slaneyside Bonzo 3-1. (4x6x5). Trainer: Hepden. Time: 27.56. Follow The Light (2) 5-4 fav. 11.34: 1 GENEVA ROBBIE 3-1, 2 Dave The Chain

  • Alonso quickest in first Spa practice

    Formula One's summer break came to a shuddering halt as heavy rain and leaden skies welcomed back the teams and drivers. The Belgian Grand Prix is renowned for the capricious nature of its weather, and that was certainly highlighted throughout the

  • Police threaten to Taser man in Banbury

    Police officers deployed a Taser in the early hours after they were called to an incident in Banbury. Officers said they were called to an address in Winter Gardens Way shortly after 1am, following reports of a man with a knife making threats to harm

  • MY WHEELS: Not bad for £25

    WHAT VEHICLE DO YOU DRIVE? An Austin Seven (later badged as the Mini Countryman). HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD IT? Since May 4,1960. I bought it as an MOT failure. HOW MUCH DID IT COST? £25. WHAT WORK HAVE YOU DONE TO THE

  • MOTOR MOUTH: Catching up

    IT seems that there is a God after all… and he occasionally smiles on the beleaguered motorist. Last week after two decades, the governments of England and Wales finally caught up with their Scottish counterparts in banning the use of wheel

  • Boys face 26 criminal damage charges

    Two boys have been charged with a total of 26 counts of criminal damage in connection with a number of cars being damaged in Milcombe. A 13-year-old from Milcombe and a 16-year-old from Bloxham have been charged and released on bail to appear

  • Barriers keep crime off the Ridgeway

    BARRIERS installed along Britain’s oldest road have helped cut poaching and hare-coursing, according to police. Oxfordshire County Council installed the temporary barriers between Hill Road, Lewknor and Hill Road, Watlington, on the Ridegway National

  • Next creates 50 new jobs in Witney

    SHOPPERS waited eagerly yesterday for the opening of the latest store to move into the extended Woolgate Shopping Centre in Witney. Next, which has created 50 new jobs and will open seven days a week, began trading at the complex in one of three shops

  • Future's brighter, thanks to Aspire

    ONCE he was homeless and unemployed, but now Paul Freeth has turned his life around, and wants to help others who have fallen on hard times. Having been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for several years, his first breakthrough came when, with support

  • Local share prices

    AEA Technology 18.5 BMW 3387 Electrocomps 204.4 Nationwide Accident Repair 87.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.6 Oxford Catalyst 74.5 Oxford Instruments 345 REED 516.25 RM 131.25 RPS Group 171.5 Courtesy Redmayne Bentley

  • Batt brothers both on crutches

    United right back Damian Batt said this week he wasn’t the only one on crutches in his family. So is his brother Shaun, the Millwall forward, following a horrific injury sustained in the Lions’ pre-season friendly at AFC Wimbledon that saw him stretchered

  • Child sex offender jailed for eight years

    A 50-year-old man was today sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty of child sex offences. Oxford Crown Court heard that Terence Phillips, from Pembrokeshire, Wales, formerly of Wantage, was arrested in June last year and

  • Vandalism attack on trees

    Vandals have snapped eight mountain ash trees in Grove near Wantage. Thames Valley Police officers are appealing for witnesses after the eight trees in Cane Lane were damaged. The trees, in a field in front of Grove RFC clubhouse, were snapped and have

  • Zooming along

    Modern languages teacher Monica Hyde knew that music helped her pupils to learn French, but was frustrated that there weren't enough good songs around. So she decided to write her own, helped by the fact that her husband, John, is a professional

  • Goals will come, say U's

    Oxford United’s players believe it’s nothing to worry about that the team have failed to find the net in three of their five matches this season. The goals will come, they insist, because they are making chances all the time. That was very evident at

  • Families are invited to art day

    FAMILIES can show off their artistic sides at a free family fun day tomorrow. Artist Dionne Barber will be at Modern Art Oxford to host workshops inspired by the paintings of Turner award-winning Howard Hodgkin that are currently on display

  • Getting fit for Aids fundraiser

    A BISHOP and his daughter are taking part in a 10-mile charity run to raise funds for Zambian children orphaned by Aids. The Rt Rev Colin Fletcher, the Bishop of Dorchester, and his daughter Pippa, 26, are training for the Great South Run to

  • Millions on Bank Holiday getaway

    Millions have taken to the roads, railways and airports at the start of a Bank Holiday weekend where rain was expected to give way to some welcome sunshine. Among those glad to see the showers relent were the many thousands flocking to music

  • Vandals destroy trees worth £1,200

    Police are appealing for witnesses to two incidents of criminal damage caused to eight Mountain Ash trees in Cane Lane, Grove. The trees, in a field in front of Grove RFC clubhouse, were snapped and have had to be removed following the incidents

  • FOOTBALL: Duo miss out for Kidlington

    Kidlington will be without Lance Williams and Mark Baker when they host Pegasus Juniors in the Premier Division on Saturday. Williams, their summer signing from Abingdon Town, has a hamstring problem while Baker has only started light training after

  • Oxfordshire firefighter calls for rapid control room decision

    A LEADING Oxfordshire firefighter has called for a swift decision from the Government over the future of regional fire centres. Nine new regional control centres have been built in England as part of a £423m plan to regionalise the service, but the project

  • Asperger's diagnosis made sense to 'outsider'

    SARAH Hewitt always felt like an outsider at school. She was disruptive, found it difficult to make friendships, and for years wondered why she did not fit in. To escape the confusion and angst that beset her days at Bloxham School,

  • FOOTBALL: North Leigh boss Gee aims to be step ahead

    North Leigh manager Mark Gee hopes to use some inside knowledge to bring his side a victory away to Cinderford in the preliminary round on Saturday. Last weekend, Abingdon United beat Cinderford 4-3 in the league and Gee is hoping to get some

  • Oxford homeless project to close

    A centre which has helped some of Oxford’s most vulnerable homeless people for almost 20 years will close in four weeks’ time. The Gap project, in Park End Street, will stop operating on September 30 after its funding from NHS Oxfordshire and

  • Appeal cash floods in after Witney theft

    GENEROUS customers of a Witney newsagent’s shop have dug deep to replace many times over money destined for victims of the Pakistan floods that was stolen. A charity jar containing about £100 was taken from the counter at Newslink, in Corn Street, Witney

  • Oxford homeless project to close next month

    A centre which has helped some of Oxford’s most vulnerable homeless people for almost 20 years will close in four weeks’ time, the Oxford Mail has learned. The Gap project, in Park End Street, will stop operating on September 30 after its funding from

  • CRICKET: Ryan ranked No 2

    Oxfordshire's Luke Ryan was the second leading wicket-taker in the Minor Counties Championship with 29 victims. The Banbury left-arm spinner was one of three players to achieve that mark, but had the best average – 16.20. Northumberland’s ex-Durham

  • In the saddle

    Sue Ryder Care is appealing to people in Oxfordshire to take part in its annual Ride for Ryder fundraising campaign this month. The scheme encourages people to take a journey in aid of the charity and raise vital funds for its local hospice at Nettlebed

  • Camera switch-off makes roads safer

    IT’S a good thing that the money-making speed cameras have been switched off. Now drivers can focus their concentration on the road in front of them instead of having to look about for cameras or taking their eyes off the road to keep checking if their

  • Bridge breakthrough

    I WRITE regarding the problems surrounding the policing of Magdalen Bridge on May Morning. Some years ago I suggested a possible solution to jumpers on May Morning – scaffold poles, jutting horizontally out from the bridge, on both sides, with scramble

  • CRICKET: Rowant's day of destiny?

    Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Aston Rowant may well need to beat High Wycombe tomorrow if they are to avoid relegation from Division 1. Rowant are seven points adrift of safety and visit title-challenging Henley in their final match

  • Wilder: Cup has whetted appetite

    Manager Chris Wilder says the West Ham experience has given everyone at Oxford United a taste for more. And he stressed the long-term goal of the club is to get back to playing the likes of West Ham on a regular basis, as they used to do. "We have to

  • Work on Oxford lock will close streets

    TWO west Oxford streets will be partially closed for the next 10 weeks while the Environment Agency carries out flood management work on Osney Lock. The agency is replacing the old weir gate which stands on the Osney Stream at its junction with the River

  • Eynsham man bled to death after being sent home

    A MAN died from internal bleeding eight hours after being discharged from Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital. Daniel Senior died on the same day he was declared fit enough to leave hospital following a four-night stay for intestinal bleeding. An inquest

  • CABBAGES & KINGS: Wilf is no fan of change

    THERE’S no disputing Wilf is a man of the city. Were this retired college scout sawn in half, you’d find the word ‘Oxford’ written from end to end. He isn’t one for change. “The Market Street bike shop’s moving,” he announced, barely able to retain composure

  • COMMENT: Family deserves answers

    IT IS not for us to pre-judge the inquest findings over the death of Daniel Senior a few hours after leaving hospital. The surgeon, Zahir Soonawalla, has yet to give evidence to coroner Nicholas Gardiner. But whatever the findings, the Senior family

  • Distorted facts

    I don’t think I’m the only person who saw the BBC Panorama programme, Death In The Med, who will be totally disgusted with another distortion of colossal proportion. This is from a corporation that failed in its duty to show a DEC appeal for Gaza, after

  • Sinking feeling

    EARLIER in August, 18 months or so after the closure of Peers Pool, I swam with the famous Sunday Larks at Barton Pool where they have relocated. The Larks are a shadow of their former selves, and are constricted by having to squeeze their session in

  • FOOTBALL: City striker Janes set for Didcot switch

    Didcot Town boss Stuart Peace is set to sign striker Mark Janes from Premier Division rivals Oxford City. And he could make his Railwaymen debut at home to Hednesford on Saturday, after City boss Mike Ford agreed to waive the seven-day rule which means

  • Oxford fishmonger's catch of the day

    FOODIES will be able to buy their favourite fish at a new £1m market in Oxford without getting caught in city traffic. Haymans Fisheries is opening a 13,000 sq ft store in the Osney Mead industrial estate, West Oxford, and will sell 1,000 different

  • A huge loss if Oxsrad has to fold

    THERE is no real villain of the piece in the likely demise of Oxsrad because of an unpaid (or unpayable) photocopier bill. The Oxford and District Sports and Recreation Association is in dire straits because of its £48,000 debt and a county court order

  • M40 works to remain over holiday

    MAJOR roadworks on the M40 in Oxfordshire will remain in place over the Bank Holiday weekend. Improvement work started on the M40/A34 interchange earlier this month and is set to last until Christmas. The Highways Agency had hoped to lift 40mph speed

  • Button playing catch up

    Jenson Button fears Red Bull may have "stolen a march" on McLaren this season that has left his hopes of back-to-back world titles hanging in the balance. Button goes into Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix just 14 points adrift of championship leader

  • 'Leave early' for Bank Holiday getaway

    The millions of people preparing for a long weekend get-away should pack for every eventuality and leave early - all signs suggest this will be a typical British Bank Holiday. On what is traditionally one of the busiest weekends of the year

  • Picnic launches Oxford Foodies Festival

    ORGANISERS of this weekend’s Oxford Foodies Festival in South Park toasted the event with a picnic yesterday, as marquees for the three-day extravaganza started to go up. Event director Sue Hitchen, 54, pictured with chef Chris Bentham, 34, said: “It

  • Philliskirk leaves Oxford United

    OXFORD United have said goodbye to their on-loan Chelsea striker Danny Philliskirk. The U’s have chosen not to extend his one-month deal and the 19-year-old has returned to Stamford Bridge. Philliskirk had limited opportunities, playing just once, when

  • Hunt for Oxford graffiti tagger Soak goes to school

    POLICE are sending photos of the handiwork of the prolific ‘Soak’ graffiti vandal to all secondary schools in Oxford – in the hope that pupils may be able to shed light on the tagger’s identity. Officers revealed they plan to seek help from

  • PM security review over 'near miss'

    Downing Street has been asked to review security arrangements because insurgents apparently tried to bring down David Cameron's helicopter in Afghanistan.An RAF Chinook transporting the Prime Minister during a visit earlier this year was forced into a

  • Fun day for Oxford's 'forgotten estate'

    FAMILIES can take a trip down memory lane to celebrate a lesser known Oxford estate. Members of the Donnington Neighbourhood Tenants and Residents Association (DNTRA) want to spark community spirit in the area which they say has dwindled over the years