First Great Western confirmed that a bull is still loose in fields next to the track in Appleford. Police and the farmer are doing their best to catch the animal, a FGW spokeswoman said. Trains between Oxford and Didcot are traveling more slowly
TRAINS between Didcot Parkway and Oxford are disrupted this evening due to an animal on the tracks. Passengers waiting at Oxford for First Great Western services from London to Worcester are reporting that a bull on the line near Appleford is delaying
TRAFFIC is returning to normal after two three-vehicle crashes on the A34. There were no injuries in the two smashes both at 4.30pm but both caused delays to drivers. The road northbound crash by the A420 at the Botley Interchange and the collision
ORGANISATIONS in Oxfordshire are being urged to sign up to a new volunteers’ charter. Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action wants groups using volunteers to join the Oxfordshire Valuing Volunteers Charter. The call comes during Volunteers
JUST six years ago it was home to more than 250 tonnes of rubbish, but now it’s an award-winning beauty spot. After months of work and £80,000 of investment, Heyford Meadow has been transformed from a scrap yard to a nature reserve. Oxford
Where to start? The latest production from Banbury Cross Players is Anthony Shaffer’s ‘Whodunnit’ a spoofMurder Mystery written in the 1970’s but based on typical 1930’s dramas that used to be standard fare for am dram groups nationwide. It’s
FOR 37 years she has tried to make the pain of intensive care a little more bearable for others. A friendly face for those coming in, and always a kind word for their relatives. But now Brenda Sellwood has waved goodbye to the patients of Oxford
THAMES Water is hoping to increase bills up by an average of around £100 to pay for infrastructure improvements. If approved, bills will increase by one per cent above inflation for five years from 2015 while another £70 or £80 will be added to
THIS is the first photograph of the damage caused by a devastating fire at a Bicester paper warehouse today. Firefighters were called to the blaze at printing firm Polestar in Granville Way on the Chaucer Business Park at about 12.50am this morning
A planning application for the development of around 900 homes at Barton West has been submitted to Oxford City Council. The homes will be built on 38 hectares of land which the city council owns west of Barton. Development company Grosvenor
COMMUNITY and charity groups granted a more secure future have spoken of their relief at being given up to £1,000 each. The 41 projects across Oxfordshire given cash from a pot of £36,209 were announced last month. Today the Oxford Mail looks at
A BANBURY primary school has been granted nearly £700,000 to build six new classrooms. Dashwood Banbury Academy was given £686,900 from the Government via the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund for the development. An extra class for reception
THE winners of a fancy-dress costume aimed at turning Oxford orange have been announced. For the first time, organisers of the Oxford Mail-backed Oxford Town and Gown 10k race ran a competition for the best costume for the race on May 12. The
THIS was the scene at the Beehive pub in Blackfriars Road, St Ebbe’s, Oxford, as families celebrated the Coronation. The picture comes from Valerie Wells, of Long Close, Headington, whose maiden name was Stratton. She writes: “The landlord
THE people of Newland, Witney, celebrated the Coronation, but how and where? Alison Souster, of Ducklington, who sent in this picture, writes: “I am guessing these are people who organised some kind of community event. I know the community is Newland
THE Coronation celebrations in one part of Oxford went off with a bang – literally. Fireworks flew in all directions as a group of drunks rolled out of the pub and took charge of lighting them. The chaotic display of firepower took place in
IT WASN’T all eating and drinking at the Coronation party at Kirtlington School in 1953. Pupils burned off some of the calories by taking part in a series of races. Families are seen lining up outside the school before the celebrations began
CHILDREN at Thame were among thousands who enjoyed Coronation parties in 1953. There were lots of happy faces as the youngsters prepared to tuck into a sumptuous tea provided by parents and friends.
ROSINA Cripps may have been the country’s oldest Coronation Queen. She was 79 when she was chosen by villagers at Wheatley, near Oxford. The picture of her aboard her float in 1953 was sent in by her grand-daughter, Mavis Ramsden. Mrs Ramsden
THIS was a scene that was repeated throughout the land 60 years ago. Thousands of parties were held in streets, playgrounds and halls to mark the Queen’s Coronation on June 2, 1953. This picture was taken at SS Mary and John School in East
ORGANISERS of a festival of new music centred in Oxford’s Cowley Road, have unveiled the first bands for the event. Gathering Festival will see up to 40 bands playing seven East Oxford venues in just one night, on October 19. Artists include
GARGOYLES and gore inspired a group of schoolchildren to put together a film about one of Oxford’s most iconic buildings. Eight youngsters aged ten and 11 from Pegasus Primary School, Blackbird Leys, have spent the past four months bringing to
HEADINGTON ushered in the summer yesterday with the return of its annual festival. Thousands descended on Bury Knowle Park for the area’s biggest community event, celebrating its 10th year. Last year’s Headington Festival did not take place
Hundreds got a peak behind the doors of Didcot’s cutting edge Diamond Light Source Synchrotron machine. See tomorrow’s Oxford Mail for details on an action-packed event.
A motorist was punched in the face and his car was punched by a pregnant woman in a road rage incident. Police said the 19-year-old victim was driving a VW Beetle on the A41 Rodney House roundabout when the attack happened. The victim suffered
Demonstrators called on Oxford City Council to bring in a new rule to help people hit by “bedroom tax” reforms. Organiser Dom Francis said it should follow Leeds City Council lead and reclassify more than 800 “spare rooms” as “non-specific rooms
Six people have been bailed after a brawl involving several people in the car park of TK Maxx in Banbury. Thames Valley Police were called to the Calthorpe Street shop at 4.45pm on Wednesday, May 22. A force spokesman said: “People reported
A KNIFE-wielding masked raider threatened a female shop assistant before making off with cash. Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after the robbery in Littlemore on Thursday. The force said at about 1.50pm a man entered VCR R&
WE feel for Cowley Road businesses suffering the knock-on effect of a fire at Cycle King in March. They say the lack of a pedestrian walkway around scaffolding has meant customers have been put off. We urge city and county council bosses to
SHOPS near the charred remains of Cycle King in Cowley Road were lucky to escape when flames engulfed the store in March.` But their good fortune has not lasted as many have since reported a big drop in trade, losing thousands in takings. Businesses
CRICKET SERIOUS CRICKET HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Division 1 Banbury 178-9 (50 ovs, C Haupt 52), Potters Bar 162 (49 ovs, T Sikander 53). Banbury 25pts, Potters Bar 6. Burnham 152, High Wycombe 156-5. High Wycombe 25, Burnham 4. North Mymms
Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Oxfordshire skipper Luke Ryan played a key role as Banbury bounced back to winning ways with a 16-run victory over Potters Bar in Division 1 at White Post Road. He made an unbeaten 35 off 37 balls
Oxfordshire teenager Miles Hammond helped Gloucestershire to a five-wicket win over Yorkshire in the Yorkshire Bank 40 on his debut yesterday. The 17-year-old off-spinner, from Oxford who plays for Aston Rowant, bowled his full quota of eight overs
Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Oxford survived a late scare before securing a two-wicket win over Reading at Roman Way to go back to the top of Division 2 West. Having won the toss and opted to bowl, Oxford held Reading to 153
Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Damian Shirazi and Tim Morgan put on a club record opening stand with an unbeaten 217 to steer Aston Rowant to a ten-wicket win over bottom club Falkland in Division 2 West. Shirazi was undefeated
Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Ed Gross hit a half-century on his Homes Counties debut – but it couldn’t save Great & Little Tew from a first defeat in Division 2 West as they went down by five wickets at Cove. Tew, who had
THOUSANDS enjoyed picnics in a town’s main shopping street for the first Bicester Big Lunch. Sheep Street was lined with tables and chairs as shoppers enjoyed the sunshine and lunch with friends. There were local bands, dance groups, cheerleaders
THE approval of a multi-million pound housing development fronted by TV presenter Kevin McCloud could lead to the introduction of another residents’ parking zone in Oxford. Oxford City Council’s planning officers have asked development company
THIS week I entered a totally alien territory: the world of landfill, a world as terrifying in its rules and regulations as EU Law. It isn’t that I haven’t ever been to the tip before, because I’ve driven up ramps and lobbed old carpet into dinosaur-sized
OXFORD United have confirmed they will be heading north for their pre-season tour next month. Chris Wilder's men visit Recreation Park to take on Alloa Athletic on Wednesday, July 10 (7.30pm). The Wasps, managed by former Scotland international
BRADLEY Smith will undergo skin graft surgery today after suffering a bruising weekend at the Italian MotoGP race in Mugello. The Oxfordshire rider was nursing a nasty injury to his left hand after a heavy fall in the second free practice session on
RICHIE Bourne has left his position as Abingdon United manager. After revealing the club were to quit the Evo-Stik Southern League to return to the Uhlsport Hellenic League next season, it was originally announced that Bourne would stay on as manager
HANNAH England achieved the World Championship A standard time in her first Diamond League outing of the year in Eugene, Oregon. However, the Oxford City runner (pictured) had to settle for eighth place in the 1,500m, despite a quick time of 4mins 3.38secs
A 56-year-old man was robbed at knifepoint as he walked near Donnington Bridge on Saturday. Police said he was pulled to the ground on a pathway off Weirs Lane at about 8.30pm. Two men then crouched over him and threatened him with a knife.
THE fur metaphorically flew as competitive owners from across the globe came to Oxford for the city’s first international cat contest. Pampered pets from France, Belgium, Italy and even Russia took part in the International Cat Association-affiliated
A MAN died after his motorbike was in collision with a car in West Oxfordshire on Saturday afternoon. The 58-year-old was airlifted to hospital after the crash involving a Nissan X-Trail 4x4 on the A4095 Station Road near Bampton at around 3.30pm
OXFORD’S new Lord Mayor ushered in her year in office with the traditional parade through the city. Labour’s Dee Sinclair, who represents Quarry and Risinghurst, has been elected to serve in the Oxford City Council role this year. Saturday
Hundreds joined a procession through the city centre to mark the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi yesterday. It started at The Oxford Oratory, Woodstock Road, and was led by Bishop William Kenny and parish priest Father Anton Webb.
A taxi driver was threatened with a knife after asking his passenger for a fare. He picked up the man at Carfax at 3.10am on Friday and drove to Ellington Court, off North Way, Barton. The passenger walked off to get money but returned with
A NEW initiative will connect unemployed people on Oxford’s estates with jobs. Talent Match, which will provide work clubs with information about job vacancies, will be launched in the city tomorrow. Oxford currently has volunteer-run, community-based
HOSPITAL chiefs have been criticised for “hiding in secrecy” over why executives pocketed bonuses of up to £180,000. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust said bonuses of up to £60,000 were paid to bosses who met “individual and corporate objectives
MANY people will not begrudge bosses at Oxford University NHS Hospitals Trust taking home bonuses worth up to a total of £180,000. The Trust’s turnover was a whopping £788m – a figure dwarfing that of many big private sector firms. During the
FIREFIGHTERS are still tackling a blaze which broke out at a warehouse on the Chaucer Business Park in Bicester last night. The fire service was called to the warehouse, which contains mainly paper products, in Granville Way at around 12.50am.
OXFORD United have splashed out more than £50,000 to resolve their Kassam Stadium pitch problems. U’s chairman Ian Lenagan says that the extensive work undertaken means that the surface will be in a much better shape long term than had the club opted
A 25-home estate in East Hanney was “inevitable” after other developments paved the way, councillors told residents. Greenland Henley Ltd will build the houses on a green field east of the A338, to the south of a recently completed Linden Homes
THE Deputy Lord Mayor of Oxford has criticised anti-fascist campaigners for an “unruly” protest against a far right group at the city’s war memorial. Liberal Democrat Tony Brett said the Unite Against Fascism demo in St Giles showed “hate” to a
THE first community group to make Oxford Stadium their home has moved out because of the stadium’s uncertain future. Street dance school Messy Jam traded the home of Oxford’s greyhound racing for a new base in Blackbird Leys on Saturday. The
