Archive
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Ex-pupils needed to join celebrations
An Oxford school is hoping to trace as many former pupils as it can to join a big reunion for its 150th anniversary. North Hinksey Primary School is also inviting people to join two special open days to celebrate its landmark year. Teachers at the
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24-hour workout boosts baby unit
More than 100 soldiers braced themselves for a gruelling 24-hour sportathon. The Royal Logistic Corps soldiers, based at Dalton Barracks, spent a full day and night continuously doing sponsored sporting activities to raise funds for the neonatal unit
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'Army cost cut killed my son'
The mother of a soldier who died in Oxfordshire when his parachute failed to open said her son would have lived had it not been for military "penny pinching". Captain Daniel Wright, 25, of the Queen's Gurkha Signal Corps, died at Weston-on-the-Green
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Fresh call for elected mayor
Renewed calls for the people of Oxford to elect a mayor to run council services in the city have received a mixed reception. The Government's Communities Secretary Hazel Blears told the Oxford Mail the public wanted leaders in local government they
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TV presenter visits school
Blue Peter presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Gethin Jones popped in to an Oxford school to surprise a budding young artist. Mr Jones was at New Marston Primary School, Copse Lane, yesterday to present Lucy Campbell, 11, with a Blue Peter Badge
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Nursery gains glowing report
The headteacher of a pre-school in Kidlington is celebrating after her nursery received top marks in an Ofsted report. The Children's House, a Montessori nursery which operates from a pavilion at Park Hill Recreation Ground in Benmead Road, has been
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School holds reunion
A school is hoping to trace as many former pupils as it can to join a big reunion for its 150th anniversary. North Hinksey Primary School is also inviting people to join two special open days to celebrate its landmark year. Teachers at the school are
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Euro-MP insists on bus tour
Disgraced Euro-MP Ashley Mote is planning to tour the district in his campaign bus, despite being told he is not allowed to park up in a Witney shopping centre. Mr Mote, who was jailed for nine months last year after being found guilty of falsely claiming
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Lack of action angers theft victims
Police refused to go to a car park and investigate after a dozen cars were broken into. Thieves punched the locks and broke windows of about 12 cars between 9pm and 10pm on Thursday while the owners were playing football at Tilsley Park in Abingdon.
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Acts revealed for Cornbury
An eclectic mix of artists including KT Tunstall, 10cc and Crowded House has been chosen for this year's Cornbury Music Festival. Promoters say they are delighted to present one of the best line-ups for the event near Charlbury on Saturday, July 5,
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Almshouse appeal is daunting task
Pensioners living in Wantage's crumbling almshouses could be waiting months for their homes to be repaired unless thousands of pounds are found soon. The future of the Mill Street almshouses remains under threat six months after an appeal for £378,000
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Virgin GP plan faces protest
Campaigners fighting privatisation in the NHS say they will oppose any plans by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group to set up a new GP-led health centre in Oxfordshire. According to Keep Our NHS Public (KONP), the Virgin Group wants to build and administer
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Train fire is out
A fire on a train at Banbury Railway Station has now been extinguished and the carriages have been moved off the main line. Four fire crews and an ambulance were called to the fire, involving an Arriva CrossCountry Voyager train to Derby, at 4.25pm.
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Train fire is out
A fire on a train at Banbury Railway Station has now been extinguished and the carriages have been moved off the main line. Four fire crews and an ambulance were called to the fire, involving an Arriva CrossCountry Voyager train to Derby, at 4.25pm.
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Late tax payment fear worries couple
Oxford's tax office is "in chaos", according to a husband-and-wife business team who face the prospect of forking out £200 in penalties. Angela Frost, who runs Own Your Lifestyle with her husband Philip, claims she delivered her self-assessment tax
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Putting spice into school work
Children learning about Eastern culture went on a fact-finding mission to an Indian restaurant. A group of 30 Year 5 and 6 pupils from Caldecott Primary School, in Caldecott Road, Abingdon, took a lunchtime trip to Al-Zaib Indian restaurant, in Stert
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Woman sexually assaulted outside supermarket
A shop worker was groped by a man as she stood outside a supermarket. Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman was sexually assaulted next to Morrisons supermarket, in Swan Close Road, Banbury, on Sunday. At around 3.30pm, the woman was standing
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Learning is on song
A French teacher has come up with a novel way to make learning fun - song. Monica Hyde, who is head of French at the Manor Prep School in Shippon, near Abingdon, now teaches her pupils French through catchy songs and animations that she and her composer
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Car hire team step up hospital help
Staff at a car rental firm in Oxford are getting in shape for a run around Blenheim Palace to raise funds for the city's children's hospital. Steve Wren, the Oxford branch manager of Enterprise Rent-a-Car, based in Botley, visited the John Radcliffe
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Clean up teams take to the street
Up to 1,500 volunteers are taking to the streets and parks this weekend to clean up Oxford. Nearly 100 groups and organisations have registered for the OxClean Spring Clean, which runs until Sunday. It is being organised by the Oxford Civic Society
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Train fire at railway station
A train has caught fire at Banbury Railway Station. Fire crews are at the scene and the railway station was evacuated after the train was spotted on fire at around 4.30pm. British Transport Police are on route to the incident, involving a CrossCountry
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Comic pair land New York gig
A young comedy duo are taking their talents across the pond to star in their own show at a top American club. Comedy writers James Bishop, 22, of Faringdon Road, Abingdon, and Chris Douch, 21, from Hunters Close, Grove, have landed themselves an hour-long
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Local share prices
AEA Technology 67.75 BMW 25.18 Electrocomponents 166.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 134.5 Oxford Biomedica 23.5 Oxford Catalyst 155 Oxford Instruments 196.5 Reed 624.5 RM 208 RPS Group 306
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Pupils show work at science fair
Hundreds of student scientists showcased their work in an American-style science fair and competition at an Oxford school. Pupils from the Cherwell School, in Marston Ferry Road, spent weeks producing projects on everything from the science of cooking
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Roadtest: What's in a name?
For once when a car maker says a model is "all new" it is actually true. The only element the Mazda2 shares with its predecessor is its name. The new Mazda2 is 100 kilograms lighter than the previous model and Mazda has kept the weight of the car
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Bodleian Library plan in doubt
Ambitious plans to redevelop the Bodleian Library in Oxford will have to be put on hold if its new book depository does not get the go-ahead. Last week, Julian Blackwell, president of Blackwell's, donated £5m towards the redevelopment of the New Bodleian
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Bobbies seek support in awards contest
Your local bobbie needs your support in the search to find the best police officer in the country. Thames Valley Police has launched its Community Policing Awards this week. The winners will be pitted against the top officers from across the country
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Feeling smug
I fail to see what the fuss is over the Lisbon Treaty that gives the EU full authoritiy over the affairs of the UK. When the full effects on the UK and other EU countries become apparent, the population of those countries will chuck out those responsible
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Insult to injury
Ian Payne (Oxford Mail, March 5) should know that you don't need to be an "Oxonian or aware of the political set-up in the city" to understand that for Ruskin College to name a new library after Lord Callaghan is adding insult to injury. He did make
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Tourist trail worth a miss
How interesting - the launch of British Tourism Week in Oxford. So many people must look forward to visiting the city after seeing its beautiful buildings and gardens in programmes such as Morse and Lewis. How sad when approaching Oxford to see all
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'Radio would have saved SAS parachutist'
AN SAS soldier who died over Oxfordshire when his parachute and reserve failed to open would have been saved if he had been equipped with a radio, an inquest has heard. Capt Daniel Wright, 25, of the Queen's Gurkha Signal Corps, died at Weston-on-the-Green
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Frank lands monster chub
Frank Butler landed a monster chub to win the Jolly Angers' Novices Cup on the Oxford Reach, where nine fished. Using a cage feeder with liquidised bread and flake, Butler banked two chub, one of which weighed a mighty 8lb 1oz. Warren Cave was second
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Ben's huge barbel bucks the trend
Milton specimen angler Ben Horsman landed an enormous Thames barbel, weighing in at a hefty 16lb 4oz. o Ben caught the fish at dusk and used a boilie fished over the top of a bed of hemp and pellet. The fish took five minutes to land on an eight pound
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BILLIARDS: Awesome Arthur hits season's high for CCC
Arthur Coakley (+90) rattled in the highest break of the Division 2 season as leaders CCC A ended their campaign in the Oxford & District League with a 2-1 win against Oracle. He compiled his 51 break when he beat Richard Connerty (+50) 150-90. Dick
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SNOOKER: Fieldside ease into final
Simonds Cup holders Fieldside A booked their place in the final with a 4-0 win against Riley E. Karl Walker beat Rob Franklin in two frames, while Mick Bennett accounted for Rob Holt and Paul Robinson for Wayne Reddy. They now meet Riley D, who saw
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SHHOOTING: Dan's the man!
Dan Rivers (pictured) has become a British champion after less than three years in the sport. The 16-year-old, from Churchill Close, Didcot, took British Open junior men's air rifle title after scoring 668.4 points to finish 7.2 ahead of his nearest
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BOXING: Plucky Otwell stays unbeaten
Oxford Boxing Academy bantamweight Jordan Ottwell, 17, has always been considered to be a courageous performer in the ring and the fact was confirmed in the plush surroundings of Stamford Bridge. The Kidlington teenager (pictured) picked up the award
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'Buy local' urges FSB boss
A business leader has launched a rallying call for people to support local enterprise. Barry Wheatley, chairman of the Oxfordshire Federation of Small Businesses, said: "It is so important that we get our message across to as many people as possible
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BOXING: Welsh beaten in a thriller
The top-of-the-bill clash between Berinsfield's Simon Welsh and Lydney's England international Chris Higgs lived up to all its expectations at the Rover Club in Cowley. The Gloucestershire man was intent on avenging a previous defeat and demonstrated
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TABLE TENNIS: Super Anders sinks Vikings
Anders Markvarden was again in top form as Rutherford cemented their second place in Division 1 with an 8-2 win over Vikings A 8-2. Markvarden's maximum earned his side all four points. Greg Donovan was another in fine form, his clean sweep earning
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GREYHOUNDS: Trio battle it out for title
The battle is on for this year's trainers championship. Last year's winner Ian Wills and 2006 victor Paddy Curtin are separated by just one winner, Wills on 59 and Curton 58. But they should be looking over their shoulder as six-time champion Angie
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GREYHOUNDS: Baiden eyes Pall Mall expansion
The William Hill Pall Mall, Oxford's biggest race of the year is set to get bigger - if racing manager Gary Baiden has his way. There were more than 70 entries for the early season classic and with only 36 being accommodated for the £8,000 first prize
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Parachutist dies — inquest latest
An SAS soldier who died in Oxfordshire when his parachute and reserve failed to open would have been saved if he had been equipped with a radio, an inquest has heard. Capt Daniel Wright, 25, of the Queen's Gurkha Signal Corps, died at Weston-on-the-Green
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Line-up revealed for Cornbury music festival
Organisers of this year's Cornbury Festival today announced their line-up for this year's show in the heart of the West Oxfordshire countryside. Promoters are promising one of the best-ever line-ups for the two-day event near Charlbury on Saturday, July
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Record store packed for gig
A WITNEY record store was packed to the rafters for a special live performance from critically-acclaimed solo artist Get cape. Wear cape. Fly. Around 120 fans packed into The Rapture music shop in the Woolgate Centre to see songwriter Sam Duckworth
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Charlbury on brink of title
Charlbury have given themselves a great chance of landing the Banbury Indoor League Division 1 title. Their 47-run thrashing of favourites Banbury means they will be champions if they win their final match. Meanwhile, last year's champions Cropredy
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City youngsters hit top form
City of Oxford had a meeting to remember in the ASA Oxfordshire and North Buckinghamshire County Championships held at Aylesbury. Joe Canlan-Shaw, 20, and Sam van de Schootbrugge, 14, bagged five and three National Qualifying Times (NQT) respectively
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Protesters draw up Westgate action plan
Around a dozen protesters met to draw up a plan of action to fight the planned expansion of the Westgate Shopping Centre. The meeting was held by protest group Oxford Against Westgate Expansion at Oxford Town Hall last night. Organiser Jess Worth
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Thieves target footballers' cars
Thieves broke into 12 cars parked at an Abingdon leisure centre last night and stole valuables while the owners were playing five-a-side football. Police were alerted following the thefts at Tilsley park football and athletics centre in Dunmore Road
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Bartholomew just four-midable!
Badminton players from Bartholomew, Eynsham, served up a clean sweep at the Oxfordshire tournament at King Alfred's, Wantage. The school's boys and girls teams reeled off a super four-timer by triumphing in both the under 14 and 16 competitions. In
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Hawtin leads the way
Oxfordshire's Melissa Hawtin just missed out on a top-ten finish in the ESAA Sainsbury's English Schools' Cross Country Championships at Sefton Park, Liverpool. The 15-year-old, from Gosford Hill, Kidlington, put up a fine effort to finish 11th in her
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Cary sharp-shooting in vain
St Edward's (Oxford) enjoyed scant reward for their efforts as they finished fourth in the national under 18 hockey finals. Despite being the second-highest scorers in the tournament at St George's College, Weybridge, Surrey, two narrow defeats proved
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Today's local share prices
AEA Technology 67.75 BMW 25.78 Electrocomponents 166.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 134 Oxford Biomedica 23.25 Oxford Catalyst 155 Oxford Instruments 194.5 Reed Elsevier 624.75 RM 207.5 RPS Group 306 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Election results are in
Results are in after a night of elections in Wantage and Grove - and Wallingford. People in Wantage and Grove went to the polls yesterday to elect members for Oxfordshire County Council, the Vale of White Horse District Council and Wantage Town Council
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Election wins for Tories, Lib Dems and Independent
RESULTS are in after a night of elections in Wantage and Grove, and Wallingford. People in Wantage and Grove went to the polls yesterday to elect members for Oxfordshire County Council, the Vale of White Horse District Council and Wantage Town Council
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PCSOs to pound University beat
OXFORD University's quadrangles and dreaming spires will soon echo to the sound of bobbies on the beat. The university is paying half the cost of four new Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to work the beat on its private grounds and inside its
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'Gulf-War syndrome ruined my life'
A FORMER RAF officer has called for a Government investigation into Gulf War Syndrome which he claims has ruined his life - despite not serving in the 1991 war. David Bratley, of West Hanney, is convinced 17 injections he had over 17 days before he
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Thieves strike at Abingdon leisure centre
Thieves broke into 12 cars parked at an Abingdon leisure centre last night and stole valuables while the owners were playing five-a-side football. Police were alerted following the thefts at Tilsley park football and athletics centre in Dunmore Road,
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Pools could be handed to trust
OXFORD'S leisure facilities could be boosted by proposals to hand over council-owned swimming pools and leisure centres to a charitable trust. Moves to follow the example of numerous other local authorities and hand over the running of council leisure
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Yemi can go
YEMI Odubade, the Oxford United fans' favourite last season, has been transfer- listed. Manager Darren Patterson took the decision yesterday to list Odubade and fellow winger Joel Ledgister, and also to end Ryan Semple's brief time with the U's. In
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Dedicated
Children playing truant and workers taking a sickie often steal the headlines. Rarely do we have the opportunity to highlight someone who has worked without a day off for 40 years. Step forward Sue Dotchin, cook at Benson Primary School. She took
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Bus-stop killer was working in Bicester
TOWNSFOLK in Bicester have described coming face-to-face with "bus stop" killer Levi Bellfield who worked as a wheelclamper in the town. Hammer murderer Levi Bellfield, 39, clamped cars in Bicester around the time he bludgeoned to death two women at
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It's bad and it will get worse
There is no doubt that 2008 is going to be a tough year for almost everyone in Oxfordshire. The Government tries to convince us that inflation is running at a very low level. Yet we all know how the cost of virtually everything is going through the
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Pledge to battle Virgin NHS plan
CAMPAIGNERS fighting privatisation in the NHS say they will oppose any plans by Virgin to set up a 'super surgery' in Oxfordshire. According to Keep Our NHS Public (KONP), the Virgin Group wants to build and administer NHS health centres using sub-contracted
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Wines for the Gold Cup £83
With the final day of the Cheltenham Gold Cup today you may feel in the mood to celebrate your winnings (or maybe even drown your sorrows!) - but even if the country's top horse racing event is not to your taste the wines in this week's offer will certainly
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A very Ruskin rumpus
They don't do smooth public relations at Ruskin College. It may have been around for 106 years and have close links with serious political movers and shakers, but, happily, Ruskin remains steadfastly untouched by spin or attention to image. The thought
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Hammer killer was car clamper
Residents in Bicester have described coming face-to-face with "bus stop" killer Levi Bellfield who worked as a wheelclamper in the town. Hammer murderer Levi Bellfield, 39, clamped cars in Bicester around the time he bludgeoned to death two women at
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Sister Frances attacks 'crazy parking'
INCONSIDERATE motorists are making it near impossible for youngsters in wheelchairs to use pavements around Helen House, the world famous children's hospice. Sister Frances Dominica, pictured, the founder of Helen House, described the parking situation
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Bigger is better for saloon lovers
CROSSOVERS, people carriers and other, more versatile, motors may be eating into sales of big saloons, but there is no stopping the flow of new models. At the bargain end of the big saloon market comes the new Chevrolet Epica, which goes on sale in
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Electric line-up
Subaru is parading two eye-catching electric cars at the Geneva Motor Show including the G4e Concept - a striking five-seater supermini. The G4e features lightweight lithium-ion batteries that store under the floor to give the car a 125-mile (200-
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Bright idea
JML's LED Spotlights are a practical lighting solution that can be used in the interior of your car - perfect for reading maps and directions. You can also stick them in your garage. The three stick-on spotlights come with adhesive backing and each
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Clever car
The production version of Toyota's three-seater city runabout, the iQ, is on the firm's stand at the Geneva Motor Show, in Switzerland. Production of the ultra-compact three-metre long iQ starts at the end of this year, but a British on-sale date
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1500 to join city's big spring clean
UP to 1,500 volunteers will be taking to the streets and parks this weekend for the big Oxford spring clean. Nearly 100 groups and organisations should have registered for the OxClean Spring Clean, which will run from today until Sunday. It is being
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System puts brake on crashes
A NEW Volvo safety system was praised following a demonstration of technology that can limit or prevent low-speed accidents. The Volvo City Safety system will be a standard feature on the new Volvo XC60. Thomas Broberg, technical advisor at Volvo
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Sporty Cupra puts on style
SEAT is giving its most potent road-going model - the muscular Leon Cupra - the option of an even more sporty look courtesy of a dramatic limited edition styling kit version called the K1. The impressive additions to the Leon's already lithe lines
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Fabia heads for 70mpg milestone
SKODA'S UK dealer network is taking orders for the fabulously frugal 1.4 TDI Fabia GreenLine. Boasting almost 69mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 figures of 109g/km, GreenLine models not only do their bit for the environment but should also make forecourt
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COST OF LIVING: Pensioners losing out
Bill Jupp, 76, will see his state pension increase by 3.9 per cent next month in April - a grand total of £3.50 a week or £177 a year. However, his electricity bill is set to rise from £324 to £420, gas from £612 to £780 and council tax from £1,452
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COST OF LIVING: Prices outstrip pay rise
Mother-of-two Tracy Ellicott, 37, has seen her fuel and food bills rocket over the past 12 months, while her pay has risen by just £15 a month. The health worker, who lives in South Oxford, saw her water rates rise 33 per cent in a year. Energy bills
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COST OF LIVING: Families under pressure
Families in Oxfordshire face a serious bout of belt-tightening this year with huge rises in utility bills, food and the cost of transport. Even households which once managed comfortably are feeling the squeeze. Average household bills will rise this
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COST OF LIVING: Petrol at new record high
A petrol station owner has urged angry motorists not to blame him for spiralling fuel costs and has instead pointed the finger at the Government. Prices at the petrol pump have this week hit record highs as inflation took another bite out of the incomes
