Archive
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Slashed with glass over £20 debt
A 28-year-old who slashed a man in the face with a broken glass over a £20 debt was today convicted of unlawful wounding. Oxford Crown Court heard Simon Lightfoot, of Kynaston Road, Didcot, attacked his former housemate Michael Carter with a broken
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Fire crews stub out the cigarettes
Firefighters in Oxfordshire extinguished their cigarettes today to support national No Smoking Day and help reduce fires. Members of Oxfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service gathered at Kidlington Fire Station to support each other in stubbing
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Budget targets drivers and drinkers
CHANCELLOR Alistair Darling delivered his first budget with the emphasis on steadying the ship as the country enters increasingly stormy economic waters. It was never going to be an easy ride and there were few real headline grabbers as he gripped the
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POINT-TO-POINT: Hill's late switch reaps reward with Bering Gfits
Aston Rowant owner-trainer Alan Hill's eleventh hour decision to run Bering Gifts at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor, reaped a handsome reward with a last-gasp victory. Hill had planned to run Fauntleroy in the ladies' open at the Oxford University Hunt
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School parking causes concern
An accident which hospitalised a primary school pupil has re-ignited a row over parents parking directly outside school gates. Parents, staff, Police Community Support Officers and parking wardens have been fighting a losing battle outside Church Cowley
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'Chute training 'best in world'
Parachute tuition for British special forces soldiers is the best in the world, an inquest was told. Captain Daniel Wright, 25, of the Queen's Gurkha Signal Corps, died at Weston-on-the-Green after plummeting 2,500ft in November 2005. It was suggested
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Poor hosts
I am amazed by the almost viciously nationalistic tone of some letters to the Oxford Mail. Some readers seem to assume that anyone who comes from abroad to live in this country has a huge family to support on benefits, and that British people will lose
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Europe charade
The end is nigh. Democracy has been mortally wounded in Westminster and our omnipotent, unelected Gordon Brown has just about destroyed any remaining trust that the populace had in our politicians. To what end eludes me as he will probably never be
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We can't rely on bus times
I wish to complain about the electronic system operated on the 35/35A bus route. I arrived at the bus stop in Kennington and the monitor showed six minutes to the next bus. It showed a second bus was due to arrive in 22 minutes. The time shown on
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Budget: Overview
Chancellor Alistair Darling delivered his first budget with the emphasis on steadying the ship as the country enters increasingly stormy economic waters. It was never going to be an easy ride and there were few real headline grabbers as he gripped the
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Controversial flats get go-ahead
A controversial plan to knock down a disused block of flats for homeless people to make way for a new development has been given the go-ahead. The scheme, in the Temple Cowley conservation area, will replace 16 one-bed flats, formerly used as temporary
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Budget: Family reaction
Euton Daley, 49, lives with his wife Yasmin Sidhwa, 47, and three children, Kema, 14, Ishy, 11 and Akasha, eight, in Crescent Road, Cowley. He said: "We will benefit from the child benefit increase but I would have liked to have seen more of an increase
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Budget: MPs' reaction
Tory leader David Cameron led the charge against Chancellor Alistair Darling's first budget in the House of Commons. The Witney MP said: "The City may be having a credit crunch but this Government has a credibility crunch. "The Treasury has run out
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RUGBY UNION: Huxford can't stop scoring
Chinnor speedster Phil Huxford says he is in the best try-scoring run of his career after notching three successive hat-tricks. The 26-year-old New Zealander has bagged trebles in Chinnor's last three matches - against Wallingford, Coney Hill and Bournemouth
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Budget: Pensioner's reaction
Pensioners Ted Lainchbury, 79, Ann, 73, live in Sycamore Road, Botley, Oxford. Mr Lainchbury said: "It's good news that the winter fiuel payments are going up from £200 to £250 but it's a bit of a blow that there's no good news in pensions. "As non-smokers
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RUGBY UNION: Chippy can relax now
Andy Dawson hopes Chipping Norton can now relax and win the BB&O Premier Division title. Chippy's director of rugby felt many of his players have tensed up in recent matches as the prospect of a 100 per cent season loomed. But that now can't happen
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RUGBY UNION: Shaw thing for England?
Former Oxford junior and Magdalen College School pupil Dominic Shaw will hope to get a second start for England Students tomorrow night (8). The 20-year-old Newcastle University scrum half is in the squad to face Ireland Colleges at Henley's Dry Leas
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Budget: Single mum's reaction
Sam Cunningham lives with her eight-year-old daughter Caitlin in Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys. She lives off £123 in child benefit and income support a week and said: "I cope on what I get each week but sometimes it can be a struggle." Miss Cunningham
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Sport for all abilities
A football team is warming up to become one of the first sides in Oxfordshire to give players with learning difficulties a chance to take up the game. More than 20 men and women are getting top-level coaching at Banbury United's Spencer Stadium. And
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Know wot I mean?
George Davies fancies himself as a boxer, despite playing a ventriloquist this year
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Life's a beach
With just two weeks until Christmas, and a week's annual leave left to take, the choices were simple: a, Stay home and hit the shops, blowing even more money on Christmas gifts we couldn't afford, or b, go away somewhere for a week. It was what Americans
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Excitement builds
Junior Gang Show dancers get excited in dressing room prior to rehearsal
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A star role in sitcom
A BBC film crew has been in Abingdon shooting a new sitcom -Coming of Age - set in the town and written by local man Tim Dawson, 19, while at Abingdon and Witney College. A pilot was broadcast last year and BBC3 has commissioned a series of six. Mr
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Disabled shoppers lose their car spaces
Disabled shoppers must share their spaces with mothers and children, a superstore has told its customers. Tesco in Abingdon, provides 36 bays for customers who display a disabled badge and 21 spaces specifically reserved for parents with young children
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Funeral collection helps band
More than £1,500 was collected at the funeral service of Wantage councillor Jim Moley, who died suddenly in January, aged 70. Hundreds of mourners filled Wantage Parish Church for the funeral and a total of £1,557 was collected, which will be donated
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Iraq invasion in spotlight
The Muslim Education Centre of Oxford (Meco) will mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq with a lecture by Iraqi activist and author Haifa Zangana. The lecture, Five Years of Anglo-American Occupation of Iraq - The Reality vs the
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Accessorising
Just some of the many accessories for costumes for Oxford Gang Show 2008
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GOLF: Frilford stun students
Frilford Heath crushed Oxford University 17-1 in the annual Town versus Gown fixture. Fielding four players off scratch or better, Frilford proved far too strong for the students, who take on Cambridge in the Varsity Match at Hoylake later this month
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GOLF: Results round-up
FRILFORD HEATH Ladies March Medal (Green Course) - Div 1: 1 N Barclay-Watt 86-19=67, 2 P Huntley 77-8=69, 3 J Adams 87-17=70. Div 2: 1 A Southwell 94-22=72, 2 H Mercer 94-21=73 (cb), 3 M Wilson 95-22=73. OXFORD LADIES Seven-club Stableford - Silver
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College revamp wins £30m grant
Witney's new college campus has attracted one of the highest ever funding grants from the Government. Main building work is expected to start before Christmas this year, with completion of the site by early 2011. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC
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Uno is the Comeback Canine
A Manchester Terrier returned to Crufts months after he was almost savaged to death by another animal. Uno defied the odds to perform at the world-renowned dog show at the weekend, despite severe scarring to his hind quarters following the attack in
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Finishing touches
Make-Up Team Leader Wendy Carhill helps 'Joyful, Joyful' soloist Felicity Dorey into costume
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Today's local share prices
AEA Technology 70.5 BMW 2658 Electrocomponents 171.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 134.5 Oxford Biomedica 23.75 Oxford Catalyst 155 Oxford Instruments 194.5 Reed Elsevier 636.5 RM 209 RPS Group 313.5 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Police seek owner of watch
Police are seeking the owner of a watch worth thousands of pounds, which may have been stolen in Oxford. The Frank Muller Casablanca model was seized in the Oxford area as part of a different investigation. Pc Steven Martin, of Oxford Police, said
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Ticking the boxes
Front of House First Aider Dave Henderson
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Man falsely claimed benefits worth £18k
A 50-year-old man who claimed £18,236 in housing and council tax benefit he was not entitled to will be sentenced next month. Kieran Gogarty, of Osborne Road, Blackpool, admitted making a false representation in November, 2003 in order to claim benefits
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Stitch in time
The ladies in wardrobe frantically make last minute adjustments to the many colourful costumes in Gang Show
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Conducting conductor
Musical Director Claire Penny conducts the orchestra during rehearsal at New Theatre
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Teenager admits affray
A 19-year-old man who admitted affray is due to be sentenced next month. Oxford Crown Court heard Joe Fisher, of Coopers Piece, Wallingford, threatened towards Andrew Hill in a restaurant last April. Fisher is due to be sentenced on Friday, April
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Man attacked ex-housemate with glass
A 28-YEAR-OLD who slashed a man in the face with a broken glass over a £20 debt was convicted of unlawful wounding. Oxford Crown Court heard Simon Lightfoot, of Kynaston Road, Didcot, attacked his former housemate Michael Carter with a broken pint glass
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BOWLS: Latest results
OXFORD & DISTRICT IBA Monday Morning League Hardnuts 12, Pebbles 19; Maestro's 17, Brookside 20; Insmoor 19, CWG 14; Pirates 14, Angels 24; Nomads 18, Beech Boys 10. Monday Evening Men's League Picklers 25, Dark Horses 19; Fearless 29, Oh Eck 20;
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Warming up
Jule Hawes warms-up for playing trombone in Gang Show orchestra
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BAR BILLIARDS: Nelson boost bid
NELSON B took a giant step towards the Section 3 title after a brilliant 4-1 home win over Section 2 hopefuls Dolphin B in the Johnsons Buildbase Oxford & District League, writes PETE EWINS. Lewis Stratford put the Cowley outfit in front, but Joe Storch
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Arsonists set fire to car
Arsonists who set fire to a car in Cowley at the weekend are being hunted by police. A white Nissan Micra parked on Bartholomew Road was set alight at about 4am on Sunday morning. Pc Rebecca Froud, based at Cowley police station, said: "Obviously
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Parachute tuition 'best in world'
PARACHUTE tuition for British Special Forces is the best in the world and not in need of improvement, the inquest of an SAS captain was told. Captain Daniel Wright, 25, of the Queen's Gurkha Signal Corps, died at Weston-on-the-Green after plummeting
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The Insider
IT is rumoured that one of the cabaret artists at a St Patrick's supper on Friday - yes, it's taking place a few days early - will be the all-singing, all-dancing Lord Mayor of Oxford, John Tanner. Assuming he stays in tune, he can be assured of a warm
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Budget: Environment
Craig Simmons, technical director of sustainability consultants Best Foot Forward, said: "It was touted as a green budget, but there were a lot of promises and very little delivery. The fuel duty rises were delayed, which means that people planning to
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ATHLETIC: On-song Marley secures silver
Alchester's Nigel Marley led home the Oxfordshire contingent at the Banbury 15-mile road race, the first event of the 2008 Oxon Grand Prix Series, on Sunday. Although Marley had to give best to Northbrook's Paul Andrew, he was satisfied with second,
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ATHLETICS: Hawtin leads county effort
Melissa Hawtin leads Oxfordshire's hopes at the Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, on Saturday. Junior manager Paul Kelsey believes he is taking a strong squad with him, particularly in the under 13 girls' event
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Budget: Alcohol
Landlord of Abingdon pub The Cross Keys, Roland Mayer-Jones, said: "I think the chancellor missed the point here, which is to tackle binge drinking. He said that alcohol had gone down in real terms but he was talking about supermarket prices. "These
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Budget: Cigarettes
Smoker Tom Shepherd, 26, a reporter at the Oxford Mail, said the 11p rise on a packet of 20 cigarettes would do little to make him give up. He said: "I enjoy smoking and now I am of an age to support myself this price rise won't stop me. "Ultimately
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Budget: Housing
Giles Lawton, director of Savills estate agents in Oxford, said it had been important that the Chancellor delivered a "safe" budget and welcomed plans to build 70,000 more homes on allocated sites in the UK. "The housing market has been holding up locally
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Budget: Small business reaction
There was little for small business owners to get excited about, according to David Wilsdon of Farmoor-based Green Accountancy. He said: "Most of the measure had already been announced by Gordon Brown last year. the most disappointing aspect was was
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Estate wants flood action
A wave of recommendations has been tabled in a bid to protect homes at risk from flooding on Didcot's Ladygrove estate. Hundreds of gardens and garages near the Ladygrove Brook were left underwater after torrential rain fell on July 20. And 200 homes
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Crowds pay respect to councillor
Mourners gathered to pay tribute to their former mayor. More than 100 people in Bicester paid their respects to Dr Ajit Bhart. The town's current mayor John Cozens and his wife Beryl were among those gathered at the town council offices in Launton
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Miss Oxford Mail deadline looms
Young women hoping to win the Miss Oxford Mail competition are being reminded there are just two days left to enter and have a chance of winning the title. All entries, including a completed version of the official form printed below, must be received
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Budget as it happens
Key points from the budget: Chancellor Alistair Darling opens by saying: "Every government had one aim - to maintain stability in the economic slowdown. This Budget is about equipping Britain for the times ahead...about building a fairer society."
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Do not read if you are happily pregnant
It's been a tough few days. Little one has had conjunctivitis plus is teething (which seems to have been going on forever). Last three nights are a bit of a blur. I couldn't go in to work on Monday because her eyes meant she couldn't go to nursery. It's
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Topping out at Ashmolean
OXFORD'S first rooftop cafe will be one of a number of new attractions at the Ashmolean following the museum's major redevelop- ment. The initial stage of construction work for the new extension of the prestigious Beaumont Street museum was completed
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Stolen watch owner sought
Police are releasing the picture of a rare, high-value watch in the hope of tracing its owner. The Franck Muller Casablanca' model, which is worth thousands of pounds, was seized in the Oxford area as part of another investigation and it is believed
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Biotech firm seals multi-million pound takeover
Biotech firm EUSA Pharma based on the Oxford Science Park has snapped up a major American rival. The company has paid £11.2m for Cytogen which specialises in the treatment of cancer and pain control. EUSA Pharma has raised £24.7m to cover the cost
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Today's local share prices (AM)
AEA Technology 72.25 BMW 2660 Electrocomponents 173 Nationwide Accident Repair 134.5 Oxford Biomedica 23.5 Oxford Catalyst 155 Oxford Instruments 193.5 Reed Elsevier 638.75 RM 211.25 RPS Group 316.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Major contract renewed for AEA
Energy and environment consultancy AEA Technology has had a major contract renewed. The five-year deal, worth £4.7m, involves assessing air quality data for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Scottish Government, Welsh Assembly
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Firefighters tackle blaze in flats
Firefighters were called to tackle a blaze in a block of flats in Cutteslowe, north Oxford, this morning. The fire started in a bedroom in the three-storey block in Park Close, at 7.50am. Residents managed to get out and alert firefighters and no-one
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Grand Finale To The Abolition Celebrations
Pegasus Theatre marks the end of the year commemorating 200 years since the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade with a flourish. Journeys To Freedom, a cycle of nine plays celebrating black history and culture will take place over a week opening
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Property professionals offered expert advice
Landlords, letting agents & property managers are being invited to find out more issues that affect managed property portfolios at a special seminar. The event, organised by Banbury-based firms Spratt Endicott Solicitors and accountancy firm Ellacotts
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Invitation to lunch with a punch
Do you think you know a lot about our high-tech economy? The Oxford Trust is holding the Lunchtime Economic Knowledge Challenge event with the opportunity to network with the Oxfordshire science and business community. Delegates are urged to bring
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Flat fire in Oxford
Firefighters were called to tackle a blaze in a block of flats in Cutteslowe, north Oxford, this morning. The fire started in a bedroom in the three-storey block in Park Close, at 7.50am. Residents managed to get out and alert firefighters and no-one
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Three on burglary charge
THREE people including a 14-year-old boy have been charged in connection with four burglaries that all occured in the same night in North Oxfordshire. Burglars broke into Ardley Football Club and stole cash and alcohol overnight on February 11 and 12
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Grassroots policing
Families at Barton can look forward with confidence to a better level of policing following the opening last night of their new police base. It makes sense to have officers working on the Oxford estate instead of making regular journeys to and from
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Lorry causes four-mile tailback
A broken-down lorry caused four miles of tailbacks on the A420 this morning between Oxford and Swindon. The incident happened near the Pusey turn before 7am, causing serious delays for drivers, with traffic tailing back as far as the A415 Kingston Bagpuize
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Tailbacks on A420 after lorry break-down
A broken-down lorry caused four miles of tailbacks on the A420 this morning between Oxford and Swindon. The incident happened near the Pusey turn before 7am, causing serious delays for drivers, with traffic tailing back as far as the A415 Kingston Bagpuize
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Smoking on rise among mothers-to-be
ONE in every eight mothers-to-be is smoking during pregnancy, it has emerged on National No Smoking Day today. And some women continue to light up during pregnancy because they think the habit will lead to smaller babies and easier births. Oxfordshire
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Accident victim wins £1.7m payout
A once mild-mannered RAF sergeant transformed into a sex-obsessed shadow of his former self by road crash injuries has won a £1.7m compensation payout. Robert Cornes' personality was so changed when he was struck down in a freak accident that he once
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RACING: Cheltenham abandoned today
The second day of the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival today has been cancelled because of the stormy weather at the racecourse. Strong winds had made the marquees in the tented hospitality area unsafe and organisers were forced to call off the day's
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Schools mark World Book Day
CHARACTERS from a host of famous books came alive as schoolchildren across the county joined to celebrate World Book Day. More than 200 pupils at Wheatley Primary School dressed up as Roald Dahl characters - and even some of the teachers took part.
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The day to stub it out
Despite all the warnings, the message about the dangers of smoking is clearly not getting through. Few who continue to indulge in this filthy habit can be oblivious of the fact that they are putting their lives at risk, yet they still puff away. The
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Howard fires warning
Defender Michael Howard says there is no hiding place for Oxford United's players after their horror home performance against Burton. The experienced left back, who is on loan from League Two club Morecambe until the end of the season, was arguably
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Controversial flats plan approved
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to knock down a disused block of flats for homeless people to make way for a new development have been given the go-ahead. The site is in the Temple Cowley conservation area, and the scheme will see 16 one-bed flats, which were
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Traders welcome parking crackdown
Traders have welcomed new parking restrictions soon to be introduced outside their parade of shops. The Oxford Times reported last month how businesses in Cherwell Drive, Marston, were fearing for their future. It was because a lack of parking spaces
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County seeks share of £100m flood fund
Oxfordshire County Council has promised to fight for a share of more than £100m in European Union funding to help communities get back on their feet following last summer's floods. Sue Scane, chief finance officer of Oxfordshire County Council, vowed
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Police to probe Clarkson mobile claim
POLICE have launched an investigation after a couple claimed to have photographed TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson on his mobile phone while driving. Adam Blake, 22, and Hayley Byford, 21, say they saw Mr Clarkson, who lives near Chipping Norton, on the
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Singer's concert for orphans
Singing sensation Zoe Mace is to star in a fundraising extravaganza to raise cash for abandoned orphans in Bulgaria and a hospice in Oxford. The 13-year-old from Freeland, near Witney, has masterminded Aid on a High Note, a marquee concert at Millets
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Mums ignore smoking risk
One in every eight mums-to-be is smoking during pregnancy, it has emerged on National No Smoking Day today. And some women continue to light up during pregnancy because they think the habit will lead to smaller babies and easier births. Oxfordshire
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Muslim centre marks war anniversary
THE Muslim Education Centre of Oxford (Meco) will mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq with a lecture by Iraqi activist and author Haifa Zangana. The lecture entitled: Five Years of Anglo-American Occupation of Iraq - The Reality
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North Hinksey prepares parish plan
RESIDENTS in West Oxford are being asked to come forward with ideas to help make North Hinksey a vibrant village for future years. The organisers of the North Hinksey parish plan, which covers Botley, are looking for residents to make suggestions which
