Archive
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Men 'posed as ratcatchers'
Conmen posing as rat catchers persuaded a man with learning difficulties to hand over £7,000 as payment for "de-infesting" his house, a court heard. Richard Melhuish is alleged to have been one of four men who visited 48-year-old Robert Boulter at his
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Headstones get safety test
Safety tests have begun on gravestones in Oxford cemeteries and churchyards by the city council. About 20,000 memorials will be surveyed as part of a five-year programme under health and safety legislation. Headstones will get a visual inspection
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Stop the tax breaks
If Gordon Brown really wants to stop the continuing rise in house prices, all he needs to do is to take away the massive tax allowance given to the buy-to-let brigade, who are responsible for half of the new house purchases. I am green with envy at
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Send criminals home
Criminals held at Campsfield should be sent home right now. As for future immigrants they should be processed at point of origin, not after they've sneaked in here illegally. If they are found to be here illegally there should be no argument in law
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Killing off the pubs
Since the smoking ban, many pub landlords have spent thousands of pounds to accommodate smoking customers in outdoor shelters and gardens. In my local the owners, who are non-smokers, have opened up a small garden at the rear. Yet during our recent
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Stop watching, act
Whenever there is any CCTV footage of a sustained violent attack on the streets, the police camera operators are following the event in prolonged detail. Has anyone on the police management thought of getting these operators off their fat backsides
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Innocent shouldn't fear CCTV
I read 1984 by George Orwell when I was young and was heavily influenced by it. I hated the thought of 'Big Brother is Watching You' and therefore fought against anything that I thought would invade my privacy. But I have now changed some of my views
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Thieves steal £1,000 computer
A computer worth £1,000 has been stolen from a house in Kennington. The white iMac computer and a 20in widescreen monitor were stolen from Edward Road, between Sunday, August 12, and Sunday, August 19. Dc Chris Leech, from Abingdon CID, said: "It
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The final journey
Hundreds of mourners packed into a church to pay their final respects to James McCabe who died in a car crash earlier this month. The service for the 21-year-old took place at St Edburg's Church, in Church Street, Bicester on Monday. Mr McCabe, of Hemingway
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Crash victim named
A man from Oxfordshire who died in a road crash in Rutland at the weekend has been identified by police. Richard Scott, 43, from Boars Hill, died in the collision at 9.30am on Saturday. Leicestershire Police, who are appealing for witnesses, said the
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Drink-drive blitz catches young drivers
TWICE as many young drivers are being caught drink-driving than older motorists during a police campaign to tackle the problem. So far this month, one in ten drivers stopped by police in Oxfordshire have failed the breath test. And 21 per cent of drivers
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Other services ease pressure on A + E
An increase in patients using the out-of-hours GP service and community hospital minor injury units is easing the pressure on accident and emergency units in Oxford and Banbury. According to Government statistics, the number of people who visited casualty
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Trauma unit is top performer
Patients at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital trauma unit have some of the best chances of survival in the country, a new report has revealed. The study, by the Trauma Audit and Research Network, based at Manchester University, shows that the Headington
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Shops asked to 'fund' wardens
Shopkeepers have reacted angrily after Oxford City Council went cap-in-hand to ask for as much as £30,000 to fund the street warden scheme. Around 500 letters have been sent to businesses, predominantly in the areas where street wardens patrol. Steve
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Scooter user faces thieves
Severely disabled Mark Lee was distraught when his mobility scooter was stolen and he was forced to hobble home on crutches in Witney late at night. The thoughtless thieves who took the scooter were three teenage girls, who took the £800 machine for
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Crackdown nets drink-drivers
Twice as many young drivers are being caught drink-driving than older motorists during a police campaign to tackle the problem. So far this month, one in 10 drivers stopped by police in Oxfordshire have failed the breath test. And 21 per cent of drivers
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Computer appeal after burglary
Police are people to be on the lookout for a stolen computer worth £1,000 taken during a burglary from a house in Kennington. The white iMac computer, with 20in widescreen monitor, was stolen from a house in Edward Road, Kennington, some time between
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Plea issued to trace stolen computer
POLIE today appealed for help after a £1,000 white iMac computer with a 20-inch widescreen monitor was stolen from a house in Edward Road, Kennington. Det Con Chris Leech, of Abingdon CID, said: "It is likely that the thieves may try to sell the computer
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£6.5m home plan begins
Work has begun on the £6.5m redevelopment of a sheltered housing scheme for the elderly in East Oxford. Demolition work on Rosemary Court, in Stanley Road, started last week in a project that aims to provide elderly people with good quality rented homes
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Stella artists
Stella Vine's controversial paintings - which include images of a young heroin victim and Princess Diana's death crash - might be considered unsuitable viewing for children. But the colourful exhibition, which runs at Modern Art Oxford until September
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'Recycling' options for growing kids
It all started with my son's 10th birthday. He got a new bike. He's tall and his last bike had him riding toddler-style with his knees at right angles. That particular model was found in a skip looking forlorn with a missing wheel and dangling chain.
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Hospices return to TV screens
A TELEVISION documentary series about pioneering East Oxford children's hospice Helen and Douglas House is being rescreened this week. The Children of Helen House was screened from January to March on BBC2 and will be shown this week on satellite channel
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A costly break
Parents are forking out hundreds of pounds to keep their children entertained over the school holidays - but youngsters are still moaning they're bored. That's the conclusion of a new survey looking at how much time, energy and money Oxfordshire parents
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Two shots fired in M40 murder
DETECTIVES have discovered evidence that a second shot was fired at a Hell's Angel murdered on the M40, police said today. Gerry Tobin, 35, was shot in the back of the neck as he rode home from the Bulldog Bash bikers' festival in Warwickshire on August
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Owls swoop to help hall
It was a bit of a hoot at Nuneham Courtenay when three owls flew in to help raise money for the village hall. The owls were displayed by Chrissie Harper who runs a rescue centre for the birds at Stonesfield near Woodstock. She spoke about the life
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Bars could be over the limit
Councillors have backed plans to limit the number of bars in Oxford's Cowley Road, but said they do not go far enough. Oxford City Council is looking to extend its saturation policy to include the Cowley Road area. The idea is to make it difficult for
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Road crash victim named
A man from Oxfordshire who died in a road crash in Rutland at the weekend has been identified by police. Richard Scott, 43, from Boars Hill, near Oxford, died in the collision at 9.30am on Saturday. Leicestershire Police, who are appealing for witnesses
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Taking a look at drama across Europe
Former Oxford High School pupil Harriet Brown has had "the chance of a lifetime" to study theatre across Europe. The 24-year-old, from Shipton Road, Woodstock, spent seven weeks on a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship in Luxembourg, Germany and
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Bakers celebrate 50th
Oxford's former Lord Mayor Bill Baker and his wife Vicky are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Mr Baker, a former leader of Oxford City Council, has lived in Meadow Lane, off Donnington Bridge Road, since 1939, and met his wife at a neighbour's
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Supercar test on offer
A CHANCE to travel in a new 224mph German supercar is the top prize in a contest helping sick children. Online motoring and lifestyle magazine MotorBar.com, with the co-operation of Gumpert's official UK distributor Racetech UK, has secured "the drive
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Firm looks to build on its success
Timber frame house firm Stewart Milne Timber Systems is looking to build on the success of a pioneering project. The company has appointed the former managing director of its Witney operation, Stewart Dalgarno, to a new position of product development
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Help for women starting up firms
The boss of a public relations firm has been made one of the UK's first Women's Enterprise Ambassadors. Gillian Gibbons, who runs Wychwood Communications based at Waterperry, will be one of a Government-backed network across the country who will be
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Writers join the sellers
Celebrity writers, including broadcasters James Naughtie and Clarissa Dixon-Wright, will rub shoulders with independent booksellers at an Oxford conference entitled Preparing for the Future. The Small Business Forum (SBF), the Booksellers Association's
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Company enjoys record profits again
Bosses at building and maintenance firm Rok have unveiled a major hike in its fortunes, claiming record financial results for the seventh year in a row. Rok, which has a base in Botley, Oxford, saw pre-tax profits soar by 75 per cent to £11.2m, while
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Building firm lands lucrative contract
An Oxford building firm has won a contract that could be worth up to £50m over the next five years. DW Contractors, based in Watlington Road, Cowley, has secured the deal from the London Area Procurement Network. The work will involve painting and
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Innovators need new home
A £4.3m office sale has boosted a fundraising campaign to bring Oxford to the forefront of scientific debate, but the deal has left one of the tenants searching for a new home. The Oxford Trust, a charity which promotes science and enterprise, said
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Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 121.5 BMW 2971 Electrocomponents 249.25 Isoft Group 64.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 147.5 Oxford Biomedica 38.75 Oxford Instruments 233.75 Reed Elsevier 578.25 RM 184.75 RPS Group 323.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Computer games can improve mind
Children whose parents shout at them to "stop playing on that computer" may soon have the ultimate response - proof that computer games improve school results. Oxford University spin-out company Mindweavers has carried out randomised, controlled trials
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Celebrating Indian independence
PROMOTING peace was all part of Indian Union Oxford's celebrations to mark the independence from British rule 60 years ago. But 1947 was marked by violence and bloodshed as the sub-continent went through the partition process which created the modern
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Gang assaults lost man
A man was chased and attacked by a gang of thugs after getting lost in Banbury. He was walking along Oxford Road towards Woodhall Drive at about 2.30am yesterday when he was chased by four men. Pc Mike Welsh said: "The man was taken to hospital with
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Building firm lands lucrative contract
A building firm has won a contract that could be worth up to £50m over the next five years. DW Contractors based in Watlington Road, Cowley, has secured the deal from the London Area Procurement Network. The work will involve painting and refurbishing
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Man assaulted in gang attack
A MAN was taken to hospital after being chased and attacked by a gang of four men in Banbury. The man was walking back from the town along Oxford Road towards Woodhall Drive when he was assaulted at 2.31am yesterday. PC Mike Welsh said: "The man was
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Firm looks to build on its success
Timber frame house firm Stewart Milne Timber Systems is looking to build on the success of a pioneering project. The company has appointed the former managing director of its Witney operation, Stewart Dalgarno, to a newly created position of product
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Cock and bull stories on screen
I watched Cock and Bull Story the other night, a movie about a group of actors making a film about Lawrence Stern's 18th century novel, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy. Starring comedians Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, it was more an irreverent
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Man accused of rape at party
A man has been charged with raping a 19-year-old woman in Oxford. The attack is alleged to have taken place in Kames Close, Cowley, on Saturday at 10pm. Timothy Stern, 25, of Pheasant Walk, Littlemore, was charged with the offence yesterday and was
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Legionnaire's outbreak 'dealt with'
The west Oxfordshire air base at RAF Brize Norton is confident it has dealt with an outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease. Only one man has gone down with symptoms of the potentially fatal bug and over the weekend water systems in the accommodation block
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Fatal crash: update
A lorry driver involved in a head-on collision between Burford and the Oxfordshire-Gloucestershire border on the A40 has died. Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following the crash on the A40, west of Burford, on Friday, August 17, at
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A40 crash driver dies
A LORRY driver has died in hospital in Oxford following a crash near Burford. Police are appealing for witnesses after the crash, which happened on Friday at about 1.50am. Police said a white Mercedes-Benz articulated lorry was travelling from Cheltenham
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Brize confident over disease outbreak
THE air base at RAF Brize Norton is confident it has dealt with an outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease. Only one man has gone down with symptoms of the potentially fatal bug and over the weekend water systems in the accommodation block where he was living
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Lorry crash causes power cut
DRIVERS were delayed this morning when a lorry hit a tree, damaging a nearby electricity pole. The B4449 at Stanton Harcourt was closed for 90 minutes following the accident at 8am, as Southern Electric staff worked to restore power for 30 homes in
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RAF parachutists injured
TWO members of the Oxfordshire-based RAF Falcons parachute team were injured during a landing at an airshow in East Sussex. One of the parachutists was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital and is thought to have broken both legs. Another
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Today's local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 120.5 BMW 2983 Electrocomponents 254.75 Isoft Group 64.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 145.5 Oxford Biomedica 38.25 Oxford Instruments 236.25 Reed Elsevier 591.25 RM 184 RPS Group 331.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Climate protest staged in city
CLIMATE change protesters gathered in Oxford this morning at the headquarters of a carbon offsetting company. The protest, involving about 15 people, started at 9am when five demonstrators, dressed as red herrings, climbed on to the building in Magdalen
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Man charged with party rape
A MAN has been charged with raping a 19-year-old woman during a house party in Kames Close, Cowley, Oxford, on Saturday evening. Timothy Stern, 25, of Pheasant Walk, Littlemore, was charged late yesterday and was due to appear at Oxford Magistrates
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SPEEDWAY: Cheetahs are rained off
Heavy rain two hours before the scheduled start time washed out Oxford Cheetahs' top-of-the-table Conference League speedway fixture at Scunthorpe on Sunday.
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FOOTBALL: Goodall ends long wait!
Didcot Town saw off newly-promoted Wessex League champions Gosport Borough at Loop Meadow on Saturday with a goal in each half of this Division 1 South & West encounter. And Grant Goodall had more reason to celebrate than most with the second goal.
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FOOTBALL: Herbert puts Abingdon in charge
Abingdon United's Division 1 South & West season couldn't have started better when Micheas Herbert scored in the first minute. From the kick-off, Abingdon won a corner, allowing Herbert to volley in between the keeper's outstretched arm and the defender
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FOOTBALL: Banbury hold Students to draw
Kieran Sullivan's reign as Banbury United boss started with an encouraging 0-0 draw against bogey side Team Bath on Saturday. fAlthough this Premier Division draw extended the students unbeaten run against Banbury to eight games, it was the first time
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FOOTBALL: Pond secures points for City
Oxford City made hard work of their opening British Gas Business Division 1 South & West game and had to settle for the single goal after an array of missed chances. It was City who looked the more promising in the first half with James Faulkner putting
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FOOTBALL: Headington battered
Headington Amateurs slumped to their worst home defeat in three seasons in Sport Italia Hellenic League Division 1 West as they were thrashed 5-0 at home by Winterbourne United. To make matters worse they played the second half with ten men after James
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FOOTBALL: Flanagan sees Town march on
A LATE goal from substitute Mark Flanagan saw Abingdon Town reach the preliminary round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory against Ardley United at Culham Road. Town applied early pressure and Carl Bloomfield had a shot saved in the seventh minute. But
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TENNIS: Henman 'retirement' denied
Reports of Tim Henman's retirement from tennis are premature, according to Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Roger Draper. It was today claimed that the 32-year-old has decided to end his distinguished career after Great Britain's Davis Cup tie
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Eco-protesters target company
Climate change protesters gathered in Oxford this morning at the headquarters of a carbon offsetting company. The protest, involving about 15 people, started at 9am when five demonstrators, dressed as red herrings, climbed onto the building in Magdalen
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Parachutists injured at show
Two members of the Oxfordshire-based RAF Falcons parachute team were injured yesterday during a landing at an airshow in East Sussex. One of the parachutists was taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital and is thought to have broken both legs.
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CRICKET: Tim condemns Brill to drop
Faringdon condemned Brill to relegation from Division 2 in the only game to survive the latest summer deluge on Saturday. The relegation battle saw Brill post 149-4, Nick Judd scoring 60 and Tony Burcham 53. But Tim Thurston then hit a quickfire 94
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Crash knocks out power
Drivers were delayed this morning when a lorry hit a tree, damaging a nearby electricity pole. The B4449 at Stanton Harcourt was closed for 90 minutes following the accident at 8am, as Southern Electric staff worked to restore power for 30 homes in
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SPORT: Weekend results check
FOOTBALL BLUE SQUARE PREMIER Burton Albion 1, Oxford Utd 2. BRITISH GAS BUSINESS SOUTHERN LEAGUE Premier Div: Banbury Utd 0, Team Bath 0. Div 1 South & West: Didcot Tn 2, Gosport Borough 0; Oxford City 1, Bracknell 0; Winchester City 1, Abingdon
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Hospital Radio a hit with patients
Forty years ago, patients in Oxford hospitals eagerly listened to the first broadcasts on their own radio station. This closed-circuit service to the Churchill Hospital and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre at Headington was launched thanks to the efforts
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Former councillor dies
FORMER county councillor Brian Hodgson has died. Mr Hodgson, a 69-year-old father of three, died on Saturday in the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, a week after being admitted with heart problems. Mr Hodgson, of Greenfield Crescent, Stonesfield,
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Crackdown on prostitutes
PROSTITUTION in East Oxford has become so widespread that even uniformed police officers are being propositioned and children are seeing street walkers in the act. The new police inspector for Cowley has vowed to crack down on the problem after it was
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Breakdown adds to traffic trouble
A BROKEN down truck today added to Oxford's rush-hour traffic woes. The truck broke down in Hythe Bridge Street near the Royal Oxford hotel, causing tailbacks into Worcester Street, Beaumont Street and St Giles. It was towed away just before 8.30am
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Chart star pays surprise visit
TEENAGER Christie Hollstrom enjoyed the "best night of my life" when rising chart star Calvin Harris popped in to play his hit songs at her Kidlington home. Christie, 17, a sales assistant at TopShop in Oxford, won a competition on the social networking
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Police pursue speeder to EU
SNAPPED speeding at 101mph past the site where four people died in one of Oxford's worst car crashes, this motorist faces an automatic driving ban. Officers are mounting the first cross-border speeding summons to track down the driver. A mobile speed
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Council fails to stop illegal traders
ILLEGAL street hawkers peddling their wares in Oxford's main shopping street are turning it into a cluttered eyesore, shoppers and traders said. Opportunist traders selling clothes, jewellery, shoes and toys litter busy Cornmarket Street every Saturday
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FOOTBALL: My goal – Yemi
Yemi Odubade insisted Oxford United's winner at Burton Albion yesterday was HIS goal - because he needs it more than Eddie Anaclet. Anaclet's chipped shot over the keeper appeared to run along the goalline after hitting a post, and Odubade was on it
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Story time
A STORYTELLER will be at Didcot Library on Wednesday, as part of their summer reading scheme. The Big Wild Show will be all about badgers, and will take place between 2-3pm for children aged between five and 11. Tickets are free and are available
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Results: August 19
THE OXFORD TIMES CHERWELL LEAGUE. Division 1. Shipton-under-Wychwood 43-2 (18 ovs) v Banbury 2nd - rsp. Bicester & North Oxford 132-4 (D Woods 38, K Doddapaneni 33) v Dinton - rsp. Great & Little Tew 15-1 (4 ovs) v Cumnor - rsp. Milton Keynes
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CRICKET: Newhook put Banbury on top in derby
Oxon paceman Ryan Newhook took 5-34 from 19.5 overs as Banbury held the upper hand over rivals Oxford before the rain ruined Saturday's Division 1 derby in the Home Counties Premier League at Roman Way. Winning the toss, Banbury asked the home side
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CRICKET: Kidlington back in race for title
Kidlington's roller-coaster season continued with Saturday's six-wicket win over bottom club Kew as the weather once again had a hand in the Home Counties League Division 2 West promotion race. While second-placed Gerrards Cross just managed to win
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Quiet wood needs trees
VOLUNTEER tree planting is helping provide a valuable noise break between homes in Witney and the A40 bypass. A small copse of 45 trees was planted on The Mounds at Thorney Leys last winter, but there are still many spaces to fill. Now the Witney
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CRICKET: Thame saved by rain
Thame Town were saved by the rain after Simon Stanway took 6-31 to send them crashing to 84 all out in Division 2 West 0f the Home Counties Premier League. The game was abandoned before Tring could begin their reply. Tring Park 6pts, Thame Tn 6
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Wind farm work starts
WORK will start today to build a wind farm at Watchfield, near Faringdon. The community-owned Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative plans five turbines to generate enough power for 2,500 homes. Westmill was set up in 2004, under the guidance of power firm
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CRICKET: Skipper Hawtin to the rescue for Oxon
Captaian Hawtin came to the rescue after Oxfordshire made a disastrous start on the first day of their final Western Division match against Devon at Exmouth. The game didn't get under way until 2.15pm because of a damp outfield. And after Devon won
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Camera hones swimmers' strokes
AN UNDERWATER camera that helps swimmers improve their strokes has been bought by the Abingdon Vale Swimming Club thanks to a grant of £3,000 from the Oxfordshire Community Foundation's Local Network Fund. The Shark Eye underwater camera aids swimmers
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CRICKET: Downs skipper backs abandonment
Oxford Downs captain Wes Bartlett says it was the correct decision to abandon yesterday's npower Village Cup semi-final against Findon at Standlake without a ball being bowled. The Sussex team had stayed overnight at the nearby Hardwick Park camp site
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Internet inspires
Myspace was quite prophetic for Christie Hollstrom who won a competition through the networking site for her heart-throb, Calvin Harris, to perform in her home. Myspace has certainly been part of the internet revolution. In the old days musicians had
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Families deserve our help
The increasingly brazen onstreet sex trade in Cowley Road is a problem that needs several solutions but only one result: returning the neighbourhood to the families who live there. This is not a time to moralise about the rights and wrongs of these
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Police pursue speeder to EU
Snapped speeding at 101mph past the site where four people died in Oxford's worst car crash, this motorist should have faced an automatic driving ban. Instead officers are now mounting the first cross-border speeding summons to track down the driver
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Crackdown on prostitution
Prostitution in East Oxford has become so widespread that even uniformed police officers are being propositioned and children are seeing street walkers in the act. The new police inspector for Cowley has vowed to crack down on the problem after it was