Archive
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Dithering NHS is in disgrace
What's the betting that cancer victim Stephen Dallison wouldn't have got the drug he so badly needs if he - and others - hadn't kicked up a fuss? We share in his delight and relief that he has won his battle with Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust. We
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Fancy dressers out in force for fun run
Hundreds of council workers dug out their trainers to take part in the annual Christmas Fun Run. The race, sponsored by trade union Unison, was around Oxford's Christ Church Meadow and saw councillors and staff from both the county and the city councils
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Castle developer rejected for Gaol revamp
Developer Trevor Osborne, the man behind the transformation of Oxford Castle, says his company is not the one selected to revamp Abingdon's Old Gaol. The Vale of White Horse District Council will only confirm that it has selected a "winner" from an
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Jobless fall
The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Oxfordshire has hit a six-year low. Latest official figures show there were 3,366 people claiming benefit in November, a drop of 51 on the previous month.
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Vandalised firms deny lab links
Two family-run firms claim they have been mistakenly targeted by animal rights extremists. The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) claimed responsibility for attacking property at Oxford Tiling Co in Kidlington and Tony Eldridge Scaffolding in Cassington
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Cancer victim wins drug battle
An Oxford cancer patient given a year to live has won the right to have a life-prolonging drug following a three-month battle with NHS managers. Stephen Dallison is celebrating after Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust yesterday reversed its decision to
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Rats 'infesting attics'
AN INCREASE in the rat population in a village has resulted in an investigation by Thames Water and environmental health officers. They met in Eynsham, to discuss ways of dealing with the infestation, following a catalogue of complaints from residents
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Murder inquiry launched at hospital
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a patient at Littlemore Hospital was found dead. The 34-year-old male patient's body was discovered at 7am on Saturday but police only released the details tonight. Police said the death at the
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Murder investigation at city hospital
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a patient at Littlemore Hospital was found dead. The 34-year-old male patient's body was discovered at 7am on Saturday but police only released the details last night. Police said the death at the
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Boatyard plan refusal to go to appeal
Developer Spring Residential is to appeal against a decision by Oxford city councillors to reject its plans for a four-storey block of flats on the site of the former Castle Mill boatyard, in Jericho. Spring spokesman Rebekah Paczek said: "I can confirm
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Rail scheme running late
MOVES to reinstate double track on some or all of the Cotswold Line through west Oxfordshire are running late. The route has one of the poorest punctuality records on the entire rail network, with barely 70 per cent of its trains running on time. The
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Islamic college accused of bullying
Staff at an Islamic college near Oxford bullied and threatened a woman worker because she refused to assist in obtaining fraudulent visas and work permits, a tribunal has been told. The 39-year-old woman, from Kidlington, also claims colleagues deliberately
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Villagers report rat infestation
An increase in the rat population in a village has resulted in an investigation by Thames Water and environmental health officers. They met on Monday, in Eynsham, to discuss ways of dealing with the infestation, following a catalogue of complaints from
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'I let family and hospital down' rape accused said
A nurse who admitted having sex with a patient said today he had let his family and hospital down, but denied he was a rapist. Oliver Balicao, 33, is accused of raping the 16-year-old girl, who had gone to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, following
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Pool inquest told of blackout theory
An expert on drowning believes schoolboy Nathan Matthews died after blacking out' by getting out of breath in his efforts to win a swimming race, an inquest heard. Speaking at Oxford Coroner's Court today, Dr Anthony Handley agreed with a theory put
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The Insider
Spotted among the mince pies, deep-filled sandwiches and assorted savoury snacks laid on as part of a lavish buffet at the Town Hall on Monday night was Philip Pullman of The Golden Compass fame. The bespectacled Cumnor author was a guest of Oxford
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Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 82 BMW 2999 Electrocomponents 217.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 124 Oxford Biomedica 21.75 Oxford Catalyst 148.5 Oxford Instruments 199.5 Reed Elsevier 631.25 RM 207.5 RPS Group 313 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Carnival taster out of Africa
The spirit of Africa will visit city streets - for a family fun day organised as part of the Cowley Road Carnival. Thanks to a £40,000 Heritage Lottery Funding grant, an education officer has been hired to arrange a series of events focusing on the
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Lab faces £30m shortfall
A new science facility in Oxfordshire could have contributed to an £80m black hole in Government funding for research, a group of leading physicists has claimed. The Science and Technology Facilities Council revealed it underestimated running costs
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Key way to deter pickpockets
Key coils to deter pickpockets are to be handed out tomorrow in Witney and Carterton. The district's Community Safety Partnership has embraced the scheme after a successful launch in Bicester. Giles Sports in Carterton is providing 500 coils for free
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Fresh appeal on fatal accident
Motorists who passed a stranded driver moments before she was hit by another car may have the answers to how she was killed. When Victoria McBryde's car broke down she pulled over on the westbound carriageway on the A40 near Wheatley. Just 20 minutes
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Fun for young film fans
Staff at the OFS Studio in George Street, Oxford, are delighted with the response they have already received to their Little Santa Film Club - the Christmas lifeline they're offering harassed parents next week. Kicking off on Tuesday, the film club
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Residents make advent special
Families in North Oxford have created a real-life Advent calendar to build a more close-knit community in the run-up to Christmas. Each night, from December 1 until Christmas Eve on the Waterways estate, families have been volunteering to host an evening
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RUGBY UNION: The show must go on
Oxford University have now lost the last three Varsity Matches and won just one in six. This makes very bad reading for Dark Blues players and supporters alike with last week's defeat giving Cambridge a 60-52 lead in the series. Naturally questions
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RUGBY UNION: Littlemore's big hope
Littlemore believe they are on the way up again after having to pull out of league rugby last season. The Oxford club (pictured) lie third in BB&O Division 2 South, just two points below leaders Hungerford, and have picked up two new sponsors. Dayla
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RUGBY UNION: Oxford ladies stay top
Oxford ladies stayed top of Midlands 1 following a 19-5 home victory over Whitchurch. The pitch was only just playable in the wet conditions, but Oxford started well. Centre Kate Warner set up Emilie Astley-Arlington for their first try. Warner's
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GOLF: Skippers drive in
Three new captains have driven in at Kirtlington. Club captain Derek Thomas (pictured centre) began his year in office alongside Jim Lodge (seniors, left) and Martin Cross (juniors). Thomas's charity is Canine Partners, while a nine-hole stableford
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GOLF: Champs retain title
Richard Poore and David Wilding retained the Tony Buck Celebrity Cup at Frilford Heath in Five Star Events' final tournament of 2007. The pair carded 47 points to pip Stephen Moss and Steve Smith by one with Colin Pike and Tony Buck a close third on
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Markets aim to attract crowds
IF braving the Christmas shopping crowds fills you with dread, a host of Christmas markets across Oxford may offer a more relaxing way to pick up your festive gifts. There is an organic, eco-friendly market at Gloucester Green, this Friday, Saturday
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GOLF: Results round-up
FRILFORD HEATH Ladies' December Stableford - Div 1: 1 J Simpson 38pts, 2 B Sandys-Lumsdaine 37, 3 S Parker 36. Div 2: 1 J McFarlane 37, 2 M Wilson 35, 3 K Bartlett 34 (cb). WITNEY LAKES December Medal - Div 1: 1 C Keenan 82-8=74, 2 J Hazell 87-11=76
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Eating it up
Food and entertainment from around the world was on offer at an event on an Oxford estate to introduce different sections of the community to each other, and let them know what resources were available to them. People in Barton gathered for the international
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Extremists attack firms by mistake
TWO family-run firms say they have been mistakenly targeted by animal rights extremists. The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) has claimed responsibility for attacking property at Oxford Tiling Co, in Kidlington, and Tony Eldridge Scaffolding, in Cassington
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Memorial fund offers solace
Thousands of pounds have been donated to charity in memory of a young soldier who died after a car crash in Qatar. Lance Corporal Sarah Holmes, 27, was a member of the 29 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, based near Cirencester
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Rail ideas run late
Moves to reinstate double track on some or all of the Cotswold Line through west Oxfordshire are running late. The route has one of the poorest punctuality records on the entire rail network, with barely 70 per cent of its trains running on time. The
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Show aims to set record
MORE than half a million people are expected to visit The British International Motor Show in 2008, making it the biggest automotive exhibition in the UK. The organisers are confident that ticket sales will top the 550,000 mark as motoring enthusiasts
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Put the piste behind you
Colin Nicholson finds that a winter holiday in Canada's Quebec province can be action-packed without taking to the slopes. I'm going on a winter holiday of a different sort, I patiently explained to my friends. No, not skiing, not winter sun either,
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Family praises 40mph limit bid
The family of a 19-year-old killed in a road accident almost a year ago have welcomed plans to cut the speed limit in the area. A 40mph speed limit on the A4130, between Hadden Hill, Didcot, and Wallingford, could get the go-ahead as part of a three-year
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Town makes better impression
The author of a best-selling book which ranked Didcot in a list of "crap towns" admitted the town had gone up in his estimation. Sam Jordison wrote Crap Towns , which offered people the chance to sound off about places like Croydon, Luton and Didcot
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ATHLETICS: Hatti's pain in Spain
Former Radley athlete Hatti Dean was disappointed to finish only 26th at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Toro, Spain, on Sunday. Dean, who now competes for Hallamshire Harriers, clocked 28mins 19secs over the 8.2km course, and did not
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ATHLETICS: Witney confirmed as Grand Prix champs
After the results were ratified at the recent Eynsham 10K, Witney Roadrunners were confirmed as men's Oxfordshire Grand Prix champions for the 2007 season. They were pushed all the way by Woodstock Harriers, edging them out for the title by a narrow
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AUNT SALLY: Mixed bag for Busby
Robin Busby clanged a sixer in North Oxford CC's 6-0 win over Kidlington OB in the Kidlington Indoor League. However, Busby's three-leg total of nine dolls was the lowest score in his side! Steve Walton was another to hit a six in his 15-doll total
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Council chief takes uni role
Oxfordshire County Council's top executive is set to take on a key position at Oxford Brookes University. Joanna Simons, chief executive of the county council, will be the new chairman of the board of governors. She will replace Tim Stevenson in autumn
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Green fuel firm lands major deal
Pioneering green fuel company Regenatec has won a major contract to supply its technology to a bus company. Regenatec, based at Milton Park, near Didcot, is fitting its conversion kits which allow vehicles to run on a mixture of rape seed and soya oil
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BOWLS RESULTS
CLUB MATCHES Oxford & District 79, Oxford City & County 70 (Oxford & District skips first): J Franklin 29, L Reed 9; E Hole 17, P Houlihan 27; B Trafford 17, B Futter 17; G Bailey 16, O Foreman 17. White Knights 104, Oxford & District 82 (Oxford skips
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BAR BILLIARDS: Corner House crush Masons
Corner House A moved into the third round of the Buildbase Oxford & District League Scotland Ash Cup with an impressive 4-1 home win against Masons A. Victory was built on fine victories from Ian Moss (5,450), Bob Allsworth (8,010), Mike Jones (9,660
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ICE HOCKEY: Unlucky Stars lose at the death
Oxford City Stars' play-off hopes suffered a dent as they went down to a 2-1 defeat at home to South Division A high-fliers Peterborough Islanders. It brought to an end their three-match winning streak. Both sides went a man down after 79 seconds
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Teacher was innocent
I am writing to you as a representative of the Muslim Community of Oxfordshire and proprietor of Iqra Islamic Secondary School in Oxford. I feel it is necessary to point out that the majority of Muslims in the UK feel that Gillian Gibbons, the teacher
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Organised dogfight
How dare the president of the Oxford Union dare criticise our police for the mayhem caused at the forum featuring BNP leader Nick Griffin and the Holocaust denier David Irving (Oxford Mail, November 28). He knew full well what he was instigating when
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Fresh plea on £20,000 raid
POLICE this afternoon renewed an appeal for witnesses after thieves stole items worth about £20,000 from Woolworths in Bicester. Burglars broke in at the rear of the building sometime between 6pm Sunday and 7.40am Monday, and stole a number of X-Box
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Nurse: 'Girl encouraged sex'
A MARRIED male nurse accused of rape today said a 16-year-old overdose patient forced herself on him in a hospital toilet. Oliver Balicao, who has two children aged seven and nine, admits sleeping with the depressed girl after she was admitted for a
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Rape accused claims 'victim' forced herself on him
A married male nurse accused of rape today said a 16-year-old overdose patient forced herself on him in a hospital toilet. Oliver Balicao, who has two children aged seven and nine, admits sleeping with the depressed girl after she was admitted for a
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Call to prayer not necessary
WE ARE puzzled to read that an application has been made by the Central Mosque in Manzil Way, off Cowley Road, Oxford, to have planning laws changed to enable Muslims to broadcast the Islamic prayer call at least three times a day from the minaret.
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Unemployment hits 6-year low
The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Oxfordshire has hit a new six-year low. Latest official figures show there were 3,366 people claiming benefit in November, a drop of 51 on the previous month. The count is at its lowest since December
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Jobless figure hits six-year low
THE number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Oxfordshire has hit a new six-year low. Latest official figures show there were 3,366 people claiming benefit in November, a drop of 51 on the previous month. The count is at its lowest since December
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A40 crash causes delays
DRIVERS suffered delays today near the Green Road roundabout in Headington after two cars collided on the westbound A40, near the Thornhill park-and-ride. Paramedics treated one patient at the scene for minor injuries, following the crash at 5.50am.
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Crash slowed trafffic
Drivers near the Green Road roundabout in Headington suffered delays this morning after two cars collided on the westbound London Road, near the Thornhill park-and-ride. Paramedics treated one patient at the scene for minor injuries, following the crash
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Unemployment claims drop to new low
The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Oxfordshire has hit a new six-year low. Latest official figures show there were 3,366 people claiming benefit in November, a drop of 51 on the previous month. The count is at its lowest since December
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Today's local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 85 BMW 2957 Electrocomponents 216.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 124 Oxford Biomedica 22.25 Oxford Catalyst 148.5 Oxford Instruments 199.5 Reed Elsevier 622.5 RM 208 RPS Group 306.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Waste pick-ups back on road
REFUSE and recycling collections in parts of Oxfordshire are returning to normal today after vandals broke into a depot at Radley, near Abingdon, and smashed the windscreens of 20 vehicles. The French-owned contractor Veolia has 25 refuse and recycling
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Fact-finding visit
EXPERTS discussing the future of Banbury's Horton Hospital have said their aim is a safe, sustainable, and accessible health service for local people. Gina Tiller, a lay member of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, said the panel was totally independent
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City's young at heart
OXFORD has one of the youngest populations in the country, official figures have disclosed. The oldest area in the country, Christchurch in Dorset, has 30 per cent elderly people, but Oxford has just 11 per cent. Outside London, only Slough and Milton
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Drink-drive PC faces the sack
A POLICEMAN was last night facing the sack after being convicted of drink-driving. Magistrates heard that Pc Timothy Dunning, of Milton-under-Wychwood, was followed for 15 minutes before officers, using blue lights and sirens, were able to stop him
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Lone attacker suspected at stones
THE chairman of the charity looking after Oxfordshire's Rollright Stones believes one man is responsible for the arson attacks that have plagued the monument. In September, vandals broke into the volunteers' office at the site near Chipping Norton
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Fire puts deli out of action
A WEST Oxford delicatessen has been forced to close for Christmas by an arson attack just months after it was affected by the floods. Eggs Eggsetera, in Botley Road, has had to shut its doors at the busiest time of the year, following the fire early
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Plug pulled on boatyard plan
COUNCILLORS won a standing ovation last night when they threw out plans to build flats on the site of an historic Oxford boatyard. Oxford author Philip Pullman joined scores of campaigners outside Oxford Town Hall before the meeting to urge city councillors
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Rape case girl cries in court
A TEENAGE girl wept as she told a court she had been raped in a hospital toilet by a nurse. The 16-year-old had been taken to accident and emergency at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Headington, after overdosing on paracetamol. She claims the nurse
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Pool death 'fit' theory
MEDICAL experts giving theories on the unexplained death of schoolboy Nathan Matthews during a swimming lesson said yesterday it was unlikely drowning was the primary cause. The inquest at Oxford Coroners' Court heard from three consultants who tried
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Illegal street stalls muscle in
PEDLARS are back on Oxford's main shopping street, selling their wares illegally in the run-up to Christmas. A one-off police and council operation on Saturday, September 8, caught 13 suspects trading in the area. Two were arrested over immigration
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CCTV captures arrest
A STREET drug dealer described as a "major player" in Oxford's crack cocaine and heroin distribution has appeared in court after being caught on camera. Kyle Otwell, 21, was seen on CCTV sizing up a deal outside the Templars Square shopping centre,
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United handed a Cup lesson
Oxford United boss Darren Patterson said the lesson Southend United gave his team in the FA Cup on Tuesday night is one they hope to learn from. The Coca-Cola League One side won the second-round replay at Roots Hall 3-0, but the final scoreline could
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Big plans for business park
BANBURY Business Park is set for expansion. Property developer Stockdale Land plans to enlarge the site between junctions 11 and 12 of the M40 - between Adderbury and Aynho - by eight acres. Stockdale spokesman John Liggins said: "Good sites along
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Santas on run prove a tonic
SANTA and the spirit of Christmas proved a healthy tonic for Bicester's town mayor. John Cozens was ill in bed all Saturday, but a bit of Yuletide goodwill saw the mayor join 55 other people to take part in a 5km kilometre run dressed as Santa on Sunday
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'Village green' looks healthy
TEMPLARS Square is Cowley's "village green" and a focal gathering point for the community, the new centre manager says. And Aaron Bayliss, who took charge of the Oxford shopping centre on November 29, said he hoped to continue with the links founded
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Cyclone appeal raises thousands
OXFORDSHIRE'S Bangladeshi community has rallied round to raise money for those affected by the Bangladesh cyclone. Already more than £6,000 has been raised at a charity dinner at Oxford Town Hall. The Oxfordshire Bangladeshi Association and Bangladesh
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Families fight plan to bulldoze play area
FAMILIES living on an Oxford estate said they will fight plans to bulldoze a play area. People living in Sermon Close and Carter Close in Risinghurst have learned the Home Group, a housing association, wants to build six three-bedroom homes on the
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Club hauled off ropes
A BOXING club has got up off the floor after suffering a near knockout blow in this summer's floods. The 40 boxers of the Witney Amateur Boxing Club - ranging in age from 11 to 34 - are now back in training at their new home, provided by Carterton
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Drug dealer caught on camera
A street drug dealer described as a "major player" in Oxford's crack cocaine and heroin distribution has appeared in court after being caught on camera. Kyle Otwell, 21, was seen on CCTV sizing up a deal outside the Templars Square shopping centre,
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Best of friends for Christmas
KING Stephen and Queen Matilda, pictured, may have been sworn enemies when they were in Wallingford in the 12th century. But the 21st century saw them riding amicably side by side through the town as part of the festive Medieval Night. Despite the
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Pedlars muscle in on Christmas trade
Pedlars are back on Oxford's main shopping street, selling their wares illegally in the run-up to Christmas. A one-off police and council operation on Saturday, September 8, caught 13 suspects trading in the area. The crackdown followed an Oxford
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Fire puts deli out of action
A West Oxford delicatessen has been forced to close for Christmas by an arson attack just months after it was affected by the floods. Eggs Eggsetera, in Botley Road, has had to shut its doors at the busiest time of the year, following the fire early
