Archive

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Listen to the first episode of our brand new court and crime podcast NOW

A BRAND new court and crime podcast has been launched by The Oxford Mail. The Oxfordshire Court and Crime Podcast, being published by The Oxford Mail, goes behind the scenes of all the latest trials, sentences, and more taking place across crown

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Watch as Chuckle Brother Paul Elliott 'communicates' with late brother's ghost

Paul Elliott, known for starring in CBBC's Chucklevision with his late brother Barry Elliott, is said to have ‘contacted’ his sibling’s ghost. Known as the Chuckle Brothers, they did everything together in the show but since Barry passed away aged

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Woman in 50s charged in connection with 'child sex offences'

A 51-year-old woman has been charged after a teenage boy was allegedly sexually assaulted in a town centre. Osareen Omoruyi, aged 51, of Ducklington Lane in Witney, was charged today (February 9) with two counts each of sexual assault by penetration

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Boy suffers neck injuries from wire tied across footpath

A boy has been left injured and “shaken up” after riding his bike into a wire hung across a footpath at neck level near Bicester. The 11-year-old Heyford Park pupil was cycling back from his scouts club when he cycled into the wire pulled across

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New plans submitted as part of 1,500 homes application

New plans have been submitted as part of a 1,500 homes proposal near an historic market town which objectors fear may become "dominated by car parking". The large-scale housing development at Crab Hill, an area of land behind Charlton village and

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'Incredibly disappointed' councillors slam Keir Starmer over U-turn

Oxford councillors have slammed Sir Keir Starmer for ditching Labour’s pledge to spend £28 billion a year on green projects. The Labour leader has been accused of a “lack of leadership” by city and county councillors over his major U-turn.

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Oxford University to expand research facilities with £32m project

Oxford University will continue to expand its research facilities with a £32m project in Headington. A “state-of-the-art” facility will be built by Morgan Sindall Construction at the Old Road Campus to accommodate 400 staff and 330 researchers

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'I saw them bringing out the body': Neighbours of 'murdered' woman shocked

Shocked neighbours say a ‘murder’ in the heart of their quiet community shows “it could happen anywhere”. Detectives have launched a murder investigation into the death of a woman in her 50s in a flat in Abingdon. At least five police

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Backlash over calls to change 'offensive' name of 50-year-old pub

Calls to change the 'offensive' name of a pub have been faced with a backlash. Nearly 750 people signed a petition on Change.org calling for The Midget pub in Abingdon to be renamed, saying the word was offensive and outdated. But calls to

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Hooded stranger hits jogger in 60s from behind on cycle track

A woman has been hit from behind by a man on a bike while she was running on a cycle track in an Oxfordshire town. The runner in her 60s was running on Peep O’Day Lane in Abingdon at around 3.30pm on Monday (February 5) when she was hit by the

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Brits who bought vehicles before this date could be owed £1,000s says Martin Lewis

Millions of Brits who purchased a car, van or motorbike before January 28, 2021 could be owed £1,000s, Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis has revealed. In January 2021, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) banned discretionary commission

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Family of 'murder victim' leaves courtroom as dead body video shown

The family of a ‘murder victim’ had to leave the courtroom while footage was played of his body being pulled out of a bathing spot. Edited footage showing Jorge Martin Carreno’s body being removed from Parsons Pleasure was shown at Oxford Crown

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Gatlin O’Donkor joins National League high-flyers on loan

GATLIN O’Donkor has joined Vanarama National League high-flyers Barnet on loan until the end of the season. The 19-year-old striker has struggled for starts this season with Oxford United, having been mainly used as a substitute, and as second

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Dramatic pictures as water main 'erupts' on residential street

A water main burst dramatically in the Greater Leys area of Oxford. Video filmed in Nettlebed Mead shows a jet of water shooting into the air after the pipe burst at around 10am this morning (February 9). Thames Water were alerted and finally

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Call the Midwife favourites face marriage troubles as star shares 'tough' scenes

BBC Call the Midwife fan favourite couple Matthew and Trixie, played by Olly Rix and Helen George, are set to face marriage problems in upcoming episodes. It comes as series 13 draws closer to the end of what has been an emotional rollercoaster

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Flooding closes section of city park and ride

Flooding in Oxford has caused a section of a car park at a park and ride to close along with a nearby towpath. The new extension car park of Seacourt Park and Ride in Botley Road has been temporarily closed because of heavy flooding. While

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VEG VANDALISM! Village green closure threat after mystery planting

A developer has warned residents its village green could be closed after vegetables mysteriously planted in the communal space was labelled as "vandalism". The Graven Hill Village Development Company (GHVDC) has written to its residents after "

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Traders react to market 'dominated by street food' criticism

Traders at a long-standing city centre market have considered whether the space is now dominated by "street food" amid claims it is "in decline". Gloucester Green Market in Oxford operates from Wednesday to Saturday where traders sell varied items

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Tens of thousands left waiting for routine treatment with local NHS trust

Tens of thousands of patients were waiting for routine treatment at Oxford University Hospitals Trust in December, figures show. A health think tank said while the overall waiting list appears to be stabilising, “the Prime Minister’s pledge to

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Secondary school with collapse-risk concrete to get funding to rebuild

A school forced to close some of its classrooms after potentially dangerous concrete was discovered is to get government money to rebuild. The Department for Education (DfE) has published information on how it will permanently remove reinforced

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First episode of brand new court and crime podcast out soon

THE first episode of a podcast deep-diving behind the scenes of Oxfordshire's court and crime stories is coming today (Friday, February 9). The Oxfordshire Court and Crime Podcast, being published by The Oxford Mail, goes behind the scenes of all

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Delays after crash partially blocks busy Oxford roundabout

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Wildlife photographer describes upsetting moment he found 'murder victim'

A WILDLIFE photographer has told a jury of the upsetting moment he found a 'murder victim' in a river. Craig Prosser was looking for Kingfishers to photograph at Parsons Pleasure, a popular bathing spot in Oxford, on July 26, 2021. Instead,

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New stadium part of plan to half carbon emissions within six years

OXFORD United have committed to halving their carbon emissions within six years after signing the United Nations’ Sports for Climate Action Framework. The initiative has more than 250 signatories, including the likes of European giants Arsenal,

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'Murder' probe after woman dies at flats in Oxfordshire town

Detectives have launched a murder investigation after a woman in her 50s was found dead at a flat in Abingdon. Police, paramedics and a forensics officer were called to Spenlove Close, off Dunmore Road, yesterday shortly before 3pm. Last night

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RECAP: Murder trial continues into day three

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Man arrested after 'murder' in neighbourhood

4:25pm Thank you for following this live blog and we will bring you further updates on this investigation as we get them

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Rail line shut and trains cancelled due to flooding

There is major disruption to train services running between Didcot and Bristol today due to flooding. GWR said that owing to flooding in the Chipping Sodbury area between Bristol Parkway and Swindon, the line has been shut and approximately 50

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Strictly star to read about Chinese New Year on CBeebies Bedtime Stories

Strictly Come Dancing’s professional dancer Carlos Gu will read a book in celebration of Lunar New Year on CBeebies Bedtime Stories. The 31-year-old Chinese dancer will read from I Love Chinese New Year, written by Eva Wong Nava and illustrated

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Explosion and fire warning over cheap heaters being sold on TikTok and Temu

Cheap electric heaters being sold on TikTok and Temu "could explode, cause shock or start fires," consumer group Which? has warned. The watchdog bought and tested eight heaters costing as little as £7.20 from the TiokTok shop and Temu to see if

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Security experts explain 6 ways to deter cold callers from your property

Cold callers knocking on your door can be a nuisance, especially if you don't want to waste your time trying to politely ask them to leave. If you have been stuck with this issue persistently it might be helpful to know some of the best steps to

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Johannes Radebe almost quit Strictly Come Dancing after Annabel Croft pairing

Fan-favourite Johannes Radebe nearly quit Strictly Come Dancing after he was paired with Annabel Croft during the 2023 series. The professional dancer, who placed fourth after being partnered with the former tennis player, considered dropping out

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Woman, 51, arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting teenage boy

A 51-year-old woman has been arrested after teenage boy was allegedly sexually assaulted by a stranger in a town centre. The incident took place on Wednesday evening (February 7) near Witan Way in Witney.  The victim, a boy in his teens, was

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Police at scene of crash on busy commuter route

12:45pm Thank you for following this live blog and sign up to our newsletters for free here so you never miss any breaking

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Warning to drivers as 29 flood alerts in place in Oxfordshire

There are 29 flood alerts in place this morning as a result of heavy rainfall. The Environment Agency is warning flooding is possible on the River Thames and tributaries in the Oxford area, including areas between Wolvercote down to and including

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Queuing traffic after A-road closed following crash

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The best supermarket pizza? I tested heaps of pepperonis to find a cheesy winner

Pizza as we know it today originated in southwest Italy's Campania region, home to the city of Naples, around the 18th or early 19th century. Sounds quite fancy, doesn't it? Well, it has certainly developed over time into something, let's say, 

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Discover City of Oxford College's range of study programmes at open event

An Oxford technology college is set to host the an open event to showcase the range of study and employment opportunities they offer. The event will take place at the City of Oxford College Technology Campus in Blackbird Leys on February 21 from

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Comics writer set for live interview at Oxfordshire museum

Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum will be hosting an online interview with a well-known comics writer. The interview with Garth Ennis will feature on the museum’s website and is the latest in a series of online events put forward by the museum in

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Grateful cancer survivor gives back to treating hospital with £1000 donation

A former cancer patient has donated more than £1,000 to the centre which successfully cured her. Kelly Hewitt expressed heartfelt thanks to Horton General Hospital's Brodey Cancer Centre by fundraising in appreciation of her breast cancer treatment

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Oxford folk musicians release debut piece as duo

Two musicians who have been longstanding members of Oxford folk band Magpie Lane have decided it's "about time they put out a record themselves". Known primarily for their work with the group, Mat Green and Andy Turner have been producing music

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Blenheim Palace announces offering for Valentine's Day

Blenheim Palace has unveiled a host of activities to celebrate Valentine's Day, including afternoon tea. The treat for two will be served in the newly restored Orangery at the historic venue. Each guest, for £60, can expect a savoury selection

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Drug driver sentenced after being chased by four police cars around small village

A DRUG driver chased by four police cars around a small village after speeding the wrong way up roads and switching his lights off has been sentenced. Daryl Finch pleaded guilty to two counts of drug driving and driving dangerous in Crowmarsh Gifford

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Record turnout for annual roadside litter clean-up

Leafield’s annual roadside litter pick-up recovered more than three wheelie bins’ worth of rubbish. For two hours, a record 24 participants, including residents and district councillor Liam Walker, worked to clean-up about eight miles of terrain

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Drop in female life expectancy in Oxford new figures show

Oxford has seen a decrease in life expectancy for girls, new figures show. On average, life expectancy for those born between 2020 and 2022 was lower than in 2017 to 2019 in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Experts said the decrease has

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Driver disqualified after admitting to speeding on the M4

A DRIVER has been disqualified after being caught speeding in Oxfordshire. Jamie Avery, of Avocet Way, Bicester, was caught on May 9 last year speeding on the M4 near Swindon in a Kia Evo vehicle. The 33-year-old was caught on an automatic

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'He was not suicidal,' say friends of 'murder-victim' in trial

LIVE evidence has started in the murder trial of Jorge Carreno at Oxford Crown Court. Scarlet Blake, 25, of Crotch Crescent, Marston, stands charged with the murder of Mr Carreno. The 30-year-old Spanish man was found dead at Parsons Pleasure

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Woman stole £32k from RAF catering company to spend on online gambling

A UNIT manager stole over £32,000 from a catering company to fund her online gambling habit, a court has heard. Dawn Warden admitted to transferring £32,041.80 from Sodexo, a catering company associated with RAF Brize Norton, to her own bank account

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'Dog died from sewage' and 'floating faeces' claims against water company

A water company under investigation has been slammed as "shoddy" in parliament as politicians were told a dog died "as a result of sewage". Layla Moran, Oxford West and Abingdon MP, made the comments on Thames Water during a Westminster debate

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Oxford United to welcome back five players ahead of trip to Blackpool

OXFORD United are set to welcome back five players from injury ahead of the club’s clash away at fellow play-off hopefuls Blackpool. Right back Sam Long has been forced to sit on the sidelines and follow concussion protocols for the last three

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Sam Long on concussion, injuries and trip to Blackpool

SAM Long says Oxford United will not use injuries as an excuse, as the team prepares to welcome back five players, including himself, this weekend. The U’s have been blighted by injury problems this season, with a number of players being unavailable

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Gaps to be closed at Oxford United? Yes, but there are encouraging steps

‘MIND the gap’ is a phrase first used on the London Underground to warn passengers to take care boarding their train. It’s since been applied to many situations where intentions conflict with reality. Our football club has ‘gaps’ of its own just

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Furniture workshop will come to area 'in extremely short supply'

A new furniture workshop has been given the green light to replace a telephone repeater station. Applicants Dr David Howlett and Roberto Cidotu have been granted planning permission to pursue their business venture in Banbury Road in the village

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Why Jay Matete could be the most important bit of business for Oxford United

THE signing of Jay Matete came late on deadline day, but it may prove to be one of the most important bits of business for Oxford United. Since Alex Gorrin suffered the first of two serious knee injuries back in November 2021, the U’s have lacked

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Care home resident to manage new in-house convenience store

A resident at a Brize Norton care home has cut the ribbon to open the home's new convenience shop. Helen Clear, a resident at Brize Meadow Lodge, opened ‘Spitfire Boutique’, named in tribute to the nearby RAF Brize Norton base, and will tend to

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Care home sets up pop-up restaurant for residents on Valentine's Day

A care home in Witney is set to transform into a pop-up restaurant for Valentine's Day. Madley Park House will be adorned with red balloons, tablecloths, roses and crockery, serving a special menu for its residents. Among the diners booked

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Jason Momoa's vintage Rolls-Royce gets electric makeover in Kidlington

Jason Momoa, the Hollywood star of Game of Thrones, Aquaman, and Dune fame, recently had his 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II converted to electric power by an Oxfordshire-based company. The conversion was carried out by Kidlington company Electrogenic

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Taxi driver accused of raping passenger

A taxi driver is said to have raped a passenger who was coming home from a Halloween night out in Oxford, a court heard. Hakmatullah Hotak, 28, has been accused of raping and sexually assaulting the woman as he drove her to Banbury. Lawyers

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Cabinet plans to inject extra £4.8 million from Government into annual budget

Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet has agreed to proposals to allocate an additional £4.8 million of funding to its 2024/25 budget. The decision has been made ahead of a key meeting in February. The balanced budget proposals were approved

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Brize Norton group reaches £100,000 raised for veterans charity in four years

A fundraising community group has raised £100,000, in four years, for a veterans' mental health charity. Healing Military Minds, based out of Brize Norton, was established by Corporal Hayley Court, who served in the Royal Air Force for 32 years

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1940's film Gaslight part of Mayor's awareness event on domestic abuse

The Mayor of Abingdon will take part in an event screening the 1940's film Gaslight for International Women's Day. Aimed at raising domestic abuse awareness, Mayor Gwyneth Lewis OBE is organising the free event on Friday, March 8, at the Abbey

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Oxford school students attend launch of enterprise challenge

14 students from an Oxford school have visited Westgate Shopping Centre to attend the launch of an enterprise challenge. The Year 10 students from Oxford Spires Academy attended the launch of Made in Oxford 2024. The students took part in various

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Inmate tried to 'gouge eyes out' of fellow prisoner for 'messing with his food'

A PRISONER has been sentenced after trying to ‘gouge the eyes out’ of a fellow prisoner for ‘messing with his food’, a court has heard. Alexander Gray is currently serving a 68-month sentence at HMP Bullingdon, near Bicester, for a racially aggravated

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Hospitals trust fails to meet NHS recovery target for A&E waiting times

Nearly two-thirds who arrived at accident and emergency at Oxford University Hospitals Trust were seen within four hours last month, new figures show – missing the NHS recovery target. The NHS standard is for 95 per cent of patients to be seen