SLIPPERY and slimy toads have found a warm place in our hearts thanks to Kenneth Grahame’s classic novel The Wind in the Willows. Now volunteers across the county have taken extra steps to make sure that toads travel safe and sound to their breeding
ABOUT 760 businesses in West Oxfordshire could get a share of more than £1m in rate relief over the next two years. West Oxfordshire District Council’s cabinet agreed to to implement the government scheme today. Companies with a rateable value
A 20-year-old female student at Oxford University is in a critical condition in hospital after suffering serious injuries in a fall. Thames Valley Police spokesman Hannah Williams said officers were called to commercial premises in Iffley Road
SINCE October, hundreds of staff from both universities and colleges in the county have gone on strike in dispute with their employers over an offered pay rise. In those five months, staff from across Oxford University, Oxford Brookes and City
TWO drug dealers were sentenced in Oxford Crown Court on Monday after being arrested in the city centre. Ben Nicholson, of Lyndhurst Crescent, Swindon, pleaded guilty to possessing drugs with intent to supply and Brandon Day, of Faulkner Street
HE helps to prevent more than 10,000 UK people having a stroke every year, saving the NHS £200m. Professor Peter Rothwell is the founder of the Stroke Prevention Research Unit, a University of Oxford medical research team. Based at the John
As we enter the latter stages of the season, it’s time to have a closer look at how my teams are faring ahead of the final run-in. When I say ‘my teams’, I don’t mean I am some billionaire owner, but I am talking instead about the sides I used
Oxford United's hopes of a much-needed win were dashed as they conceded a freakish late goal to Cheltenham Town. Ryan Williams had put the U's in front at the Kassam Stadium, but the visitors hit back in fortuitous fashion through Jamie Cureton
IF you’ve noticed Oxford looking more well kept this week, thank this team of hard-working volunteers. Hundreds turned out for the annual OxClean event over the weekend. Community groups and volunteers picked up litter from streets in their
WITNEY Town Council has been criticised for kicking the Oxford Mail out of a meeting for the fourth time. It is the latest in a series of meetings that Witney Town Council has held behind closed doors. But this time, a member of the public
A former Thames Valley police officer was jailed for three-and-a-half years this morning. Pc Sugra Hanif, of Bretch Hill, Banbury, and her lover Raza Khan, 26, of Ivy Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, were found guilty in January of working together
AS we learned this week that more than £250,000 of council support for help with the rent will not be spent, it is clear that the council must do more to help people to access the help that is available. Now we will have to hand this money back
IN the UK, we used to drive on the left side of the road, now we drive on what is left of the road. A while back I reported a deep pothole in Hanborough Road, Eynsham. A month later, two potholes about two metres further north from the one I reported
I WOULD like to say a big thank you to the Environment Agency, Fire Brigade and police. At the time of the big floods, everyone did their best to stop be being afraid of being flooded. I am 80-years-old, in poor health, and they assured me
Your correspondent Simon Ryde (February 27) is right to caution those living close to the proposed Northern Gateway to be wary of ticking a questionnaire box saying that they would like to see ‘improvements to the Wolvercote Roundabout’, lest this
ROGER Tucker (February 21) appears one of an increasing number in Britain beginning to see the EU for what it really is and expressing their doubts in print. Yet a ‘no’ referendum wouldn’t halt the desire for opulence and power – the Ukraine a case
YOU would never think that a planning dispute in Headington can be likened to the situation in the Ukraine but it can be, especially if you are Councillor John Goddard who maintains that “the council troops” are ready to move in and demolish the alleged
IN reply to the letter from Karen Woolley (March 7) I am sure that TOE2 would not want to be associated with schemes that compromise biodiversity. However the problem with much ‘conservation’ work these days is that insufficient effort goes into ensuring
HERE was a worrying contrast between the Yes and No articles you published last week in answer to the question ‘Should the West Way redevelopment be given approval?’ Chris Church for the ‘No’ campaign, set out cogently and concisely why there is strong
Between 1996 and 2011 house prices in Oxford increased by more than 300 per cent. They are now rising again. The trend has been especially marked in north Oxford, where a combination of good schools, hospitals, transport links (shortly to be improved
Ringing bells and waving hankies filled the air during the Raglan Dance Workshop in Kennington. Dancers flocked to the village hall on Kennington Road to learn a traditional morris dance, taught by the Rockhopper morris group. The event, run
We have to learn how to do more with less were the beginning words in a meeting I attended recently. I am sure that most of us know that feeling as prices rise, benefits get capped and work contracts are cut. But this was said by staff from a Social
OXFORDSHIRE has come out top of a list of the best 50 places to live for London commuters. A town and seven villages in the south of the county feature in the Country Life magazine pick of places that can be reached within an hour. Surrey,
OXFORD United suffered a body blow as their hopes of a much-needed victory vanished late on against Cheltenham Town last night. Leading 1-0, they were pegged back in freakish fashion as an 84th-minute shot from Zack Kotwica, looped in via Jamie
WITNEY’S post office will close today amid concerns about queues and access at the new service. The Market Square branch will shut for the last time at 5.30pm, with a new service opening in the WH Smith store tomorrow. The Post Office is closing
DETECTIVES have seized an estimated £5m worth of heroin and cocaine and charged two Oxfordshire men with plotting to import hard drugs. Five kilograms of heroin were seized at a Woodstock property on Monday, along with 3kg of cocaine and 1kg of
A FARMER has admitted breaching a duty of care to an employee who fell to his death through a farm roof. John Binning, of Great Park Farm, Besselsleigh, near Abingdon, was facing a charge of manslaughter, which has now been dropped, in relation
PEOPLE in Oxford in urgent need of housing are being offered properties as far away as Cardiff and Birmingham by council officials. Single mothers with nowhere permanent to live are among those who have been told they will have to relocate out
THE manager of an Oxford nightclub has pledged to remove a reference to car bombs from a promotional poster for a St Patrick’s Day student party. In a flyer, left, promoting Friday’s Kandy night at The Junction in Park End Street, for Oxford Brookes
CUTS to benefits has led to landlords picking and choosing who rents out their homes and, with demand outstripping supply for places to rent, the most needy are losing out. As many landlords are now refusing to accept people on benefits, some families
OXFORDSHIRE’S Brittany Egden helped England Under 15 Schoolgirls to a resounding 8-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in a friendly at Maidstone United. The 14-year-old defender, who goes to Marlborough School, Woodstock, came on as a substitute
Missing teenager Jessica Arthur has been found, police have confirmed. The 14-year-old disappeared on Friday after saying she was going to Banbury to visit a friend. But a Thames Valley Police spokesman said last night that she had been found
An inquest into the death of a retired GP found dead in the River Thames, was opened and adjourned yesterday in Oxford. The body of Dr Richard Barnett, of Baldon Lane, Marsh Baldon, was found near Shillingford on February 28 after he had been reported
A 20-year-old man was bitten on the nose when he was attacked by three men, one of whom was wearing pyjamas. The assault happened in Barracks Lane just before 6pm on Sunday and the victim was treated for the bite and bruising on his forehead at
NEILL Cameron still can’t quite believe his job – cartoonist in residence at Oxford’s Story Museum. His first job has been illustrating an exhibition which will welcome visitors to the museum when it reopens in April. For the exhibition, entitled
WORK to replace Oxford’s Westgate centre is on track to begin at the end of the year after councillors last night gave a key permission for the plans. Oxford City Council’s west area planning committee approved outline plans for the development
SMELLING the after-effects of smoking was not a barrel full of laughs for one student at Wheatley Park School. Head boy Matthew Foster leant in for a sniff and said “It was absolutely horrible.” The 17-year-old, from Wheatley, boarded Oxfordshire
OXFORD MAIL YOUTH LEAGUE A SECOND-HALF hat-trick from Cameron Stephens helped Cumnor Minors come from behind to see off the challenge of visitors Grove Challengers 5-3 in the Under 14 C League. Grove were 3-2 up at half-time thanks to Sam Cotterill
Chiltern Railways was the UK’s most punctual rail operator in February, according to research by Network Rail. The figures show 86.1 per cent of Chiltern Railways trains were on time from February 2 to March 1, against a national average of 66.3
Man v Food presenter Adam Richman, pictured, spoke to Oxford University students. The American TV star, known for his gargantuan eating challenges, gave a talk to about 150 students on Monday at the Oxford Union.
AFTER almost half a century of puffing away, Mick Howard is determined to kick the habit to mark today’s No Smoking Day. The 62-year-old recycling centre manager has been smoking since he was 14. After trying everything from gum to patches,
CRITCHLEYS UTV LEAGUE RAMPANT Freeland Yeoman destroyed Northway 12-0 in their Division 1 clash. Goals from Danny Taylor (3), James Turner (2), Neil Rose (2), Ben Symonds (2), Sam Symonds, Marc Buckingham and Lewis White won the day. In
A YOUTH organisation has revealed how it plans to refocus its efforts in the wake of cuts to council services. The 65-year-old Oxfordshire Association for Young People, which relaunched as Oxfordshire Youth on Monday, plans to pilot a new string
OXFORDSHIRE’S cutest tots have an opportunity to strut their stuff in the Oxford Mail Baby of The Year 2014 competition, which starts next week. The annual contest shows off bonny babies from across the county – and anyone who enters could win
HORSPATH continue to hang on to the coattails of Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division leaders Oakley following their 3-1 success at Bletchingdon. The visitors led 2-0 at half time up thanks to two defensive howlers. Paul Cooper scored
City MP Nicola Blackwood has called for action in Parliament to protect the victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) and secure more prosecutions. The Oxford West and Abingdon MP asked Home Secretary Theresa May on Monday about the training and
A planning appeal relating to a proposed care home which could be built at the former Wantage police station and magistrates court began yesterday. Vale of White Horse District Council rejected plans to build 45 sheltered flats for the elderly
Extraordinary masterpieces by one of the world’s most famous post-impressionist artists will go on display in the city tomorrow – the first time they have been seen outside America. In a European first, Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum is preparing to
CRITCHLEYS UTV LEAGUE - CUP ROUND-UP NORTHWAY Res battled into the semi-finals of the Ridgeway Cup, but they had to do it the hard way against Forest Hill. They scraped home 4-3 after extra time, a remarkable victory considering they had goalkeeper
KIDLINGTON came from behind to impressively beat Oxford Mail Girls League Under 15 league title challengers Swindon Spitfires 4-2 away from home. Poppy Cottrill gave the hosts an early lead, but two goals from Casey Brennan put Kidlington 2-1 up
ABOUT 760 firms in West Oxfordshire could be given rate relief as part of a £500,000 scheme. West Oxfordshire District Council’s cabinet will today consider whether to approve the Government-funded project. Under the scheme, retail companies with
Shoppers will have to wait for their first glimpse of The Swirl, a new sculpture for the Orchard shopping centre. The stainless steel sculpture, which has been designed to represent apple peel, was due to be installed today. But South Oxfordshire
A COWLEY man was last night being quizzed by counter-terrorism detectives on suspicion of supporting the fighting in Syria. The 29-year-old was among four suspects arrested in dawn raids across the country yesterday morning. The arrest was
TRANSPARENCY is clearly a dirty word to the secretive folk who run Witney Town Council. Not for the first time, the town’s apparatchiks have slung our reporter out of a crucial meeting to discuss a proposal involving thousands of pounds of taxpayer
OXFORD MAIL YOUTH LEAGUE UNDER12&11 SUMMERTOWN Eagles missed the opportunity to go top of the Under 12 Spring B League as they were beaten 3-2 at home to Cumnor Minors Blues. A Chris Hickman brace and a goal from Reece Hayes put Cumnor
West Witney moved into pole position in the Witney & District FA Premier Division with a 6-1 home win against Hailey. A four goal blitz in the first half all but secured the win with Tony McLemen (2), Dave Craig, Kev Lewis, Ian Sparkes and
Ardington & Lockinge’s North Berks League Division 1 title bid faltered as they were held 1-1 at Wallingford Town, writes PHIL ANNETS. Nick Wilkins scored their goal, but Simon Vaisey’s gave lowly Wallingford a point. Harwell International
6:12pm Student in critical condition after falling through skylight 3:44pm £5m worth of drugs seized by police 2
JAMES Spruyt’s second-half cameo sealed Vale of White Horse’s 4-2 win at Southampton in the Vale Cup. Vale were leading 2-1 following first-half goals from George Carder and Tom Morris when Spruyt, who had been feeling ill, came on with 15 minutes
AN Oxford University events co-ordinator has taken her former employer to a tribunal claiming she was bullied out of her job at Kellogg College because of her age. Catriona Carter Jonas, of Adkin Way, Wantage, is suing the chancellor, masters and
Oxford University student Kentaro Ikeda graduated on Saturday almost six years after a brutal attack in the city left him with brain damage. As reported in Saturday’s Oxford Mail, the 32-year-old flew in from Japan with his mother Reiko Ikeda for
WE often take our brains for granted, but scientists across Oxford are hoping to change that. The University of Oxford is marking this week’s Brain Awareness Week by presenting a series of interactive demonstrations suitable for everyone aged six
Bampton Town Youth wrapped up the Giles Sports Witney Youth League Under 10 Red League title with a game to go following a 4-0 win at Bourton Rovers Youth. Declan O’Brien scored twice to put Bampton in charge at half-time. Tahir Alam notched
AN Abingdon company is offering a reward of up to £50,000 for help in finding 500 tonnes of plastic after it was stolen from a warehouse. Biesterfeld Petroplas, based in Milton Park, said the polyethylene was packed in 25kg bags and was stolen
BRITAIN’S largest charity for the elderly has started a new social enterprise firm partly aimed at tackling the county’s chronic “bed blocking” issue. Age UK Oxfordshire hopes Four Rivers will help free up hospital beds by providing care in the
UP on the catwalk during Oxford Fashion Week, Face of Oxford Phoebe Drinkall enjoyed the time of her life. Now she has the chance to strike a pose for the second time in a year as organisers plan to stage a sequel in November. “It was an incredible
