Archive
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Scrap thieves target car exhausts
Metal thieves are now targeting car owners and stealing catalytic converters for the platinum inside. There have already been at least six thefts in Oxfordshire in the past three months, but others may have gone unreported. A catalytic converter can
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Cannabis move sparks crackdown
Cannabis smokers in Oxfordshire are being warned they face a tougher crackdown from police. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced today that cannabis would be reclassified from a class C drug to class B, subject to Parliamentary approval. County police
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Cameron recalls ‘biblical floods’
Tory leader David Cameron today said he would never forget the "biblical scenes" of homes and cars being flooded in his west Oxfordshire constituency. The MP for Witney said communities were scared of a repeat of the floods that devastated parts of
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Man faces jail for knife raid
A WOULD-BE robber held a shop assistant at knife-point before fleeing empty-handed, a court heard today. Oxford Crown Court heard Harwinder Sangha, 36, tried to rob Simply Drinks in Banbury last December. Sangha, who admitted assault with intent
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Attack left man in coma
The wife of a man who was left in a permanent coma after being punched at a party spoke of her guilt, as his attacker faced a "substantial" jail sentence. Thomas Hurley, 22, was today convicted of grievous bodily harm after admitting punching Andrew
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Train firm turning things around
Train operator First Great Western has drastically improved its punctuality just five months after coming last in national performance tables. Last month, 88.9 per cent of Thames Valley rush-hour trains were on time, just below its 92 per cent target
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Would-be armed robber faces jail
A would-be robber held a shop assistant at knife-point before fleeing empty-handed, a court heard today. Oxford Crown Court heard Harwinder Sangha, 36, tried to rob Simply Drinks in Banbury last December. Sangha, who admitted assault with intent to
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United keen to hang on to Green
Matt Green has been released by FA Cup finalists Cardiff City - and Oxford United boss Darren Patterson believes the U's have an excellent chance of landing the talented young striker. But Patterson says Green, who scored ten goals in just 17 starts
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Tell us more about bypass plans'
Householders want more information about controversial plans for a southern bypass in Didcot they say are blighting their homes. Residents in south Didcot and East Hagbourne want to know if the proposal - first mooted by South Oxfordshire District Council
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Church volunteers clean up beauty spot
Tyres, glass bottles and a teddy bear the size of a small child were among 40 sackfuls of rubbish volunteers collected at an Abingdon beauty spot. Residents had called on the Vale of White Horse District Council to clear up a field at Rye Farm. But
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GOLF: England up for Frilford test
The best amateur golfers in England and France battle it out in an international match at Frilford Heath's Red Course this weekend. Frilford host the contest on Saturday and Sunday as part of their centenary celebrations and are hoping for a large crowd
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GOLF: Eddie up to third
Eddie Pepperell climbed to third in the PING/English Golf Union Order of Merit table after finishing ninth in the Lytham Trophy. The 17-year-old Drayton Park member carded a four-round total of 290 to finish six shots behind winner Matthew Haines.
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GOLF: Wychwood cause upset
The Wychwood knocked last year's runners-up Magnolia Park out of the BB&O Hillman Trophy at the first round stage. Victories from Jimmy Kearns, Phil Smith and Terry Johnson, plus halves from Paul O'Hare and Ian Jarvis earned the hosts a 4-3 success.
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Popular pub rises from ashes
WORK is progressing fast on the rebuilding of one of Oxford's most popular pubs - a year on from a devastating fire. On May 8 last year, 80 firefighters were called to the 17th-century Perch, in Binsey, after a faulty chimney flue set the thatched
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GOLF: The Oxfordshire go clear
The Oxfordshire went clear at the top of Section 1 in the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League after defeating Frilford Heath 2-1. Peter Green and Jeff Archer saw off Frilford's Sean Elliott and John Summers 3 & 2 in match one. Dickie Gavrilovic
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GOLF: Results round-up
FRILFORD HEATH Ladies Coronation Foursomes qualifiers: 1 K Bartlett & C Jones 39pts (cb), 2 J Lees & C Wadsworth 39 (reserves). NSPCC Ladies Classic - area final qualifiers: 1 K Evans & J Stringer 42pts, 2 J Lees & S Russell 40. CHIPPING NORTON Senior
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Popular pub rises from blaze ashes
Work is progressing fast on the rebuilding of one of Oxford's most popular pubs - a year on from a devastating fire. On May 8 last year, 80 firefighters were called to the 17th century Perch, in Binsey, after a faulty chimney flue set the thatched roof
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Mosquito devices could be silenced
MOSQUITO devices designed to tackle antisocial behaviour could be switched off after concerns by police. The device emits an irritating frequency which only young people can hear, encouraging them to disperse. Devices have been used in Chipping
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No respect
Like G Roberts, Blame parents (Oxford Mail, April 19), I was brought up to respect my elders, parents, teachers and the law and if you stepped out of line you got a clout. Nowadays, parents are not allowed to do this and yet, those persistent offenders
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Murder inquiry: woman released
A 21-year-old woman arrested in connection with the death of a doorman outside a pub has been released without charge. Stephen Pinker, 42, of Witney, died after he suffered a knife wound in Hollow Way, Cowley, near The Corner House pub, on Tuesday
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Lights out
There is an outdoor light outside 125 Field Avenue in Oxford that has been on for more than a year and nothing is done about it. These lights are supposed to come on and go off automatically. Why cannot it be fixed to go off in daylight? The council
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New shops but at what cost?
Is council leader John Goddard right when he says that Westgate is really good news for the people of Oxford'? I'm worried about the impact of the increase in traffic that the Westgate expansion will bring. The Westgate partnership predicts a 10 per
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Residents win pub hours fight
Wallingford residents have won their battle to stop a town pub staying open until 2.30am. They convinced South Oxfordshire District Council's licensing committee that extending hours at the Boat House would lead to more noise and antisocial behaviour
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Museum faces funding shortfall
The opening hours of a community museum could be cut unless cash is found to fill a £75,000 black hole. Wantage's award-winning Vale and Downland Museum, in Church Street - which had almost 49,000 visitors last year - needs more funding to keep its doors
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Man found guilty of party assault
A MAN who put a father-of-one into a permanent coma after punching him at a party has been found guilty of GBH and will be jailed for a "substantial" amount of time. Thomas Hurley, 22, was found guilty by a jury at Oxford Crown Crown Court today of
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BOWLS: City fall at first hurdle
Oxford City & County, last year's runner-up in the Oxford & District League Cup, sponsored by S&J Timms Cleaning Services and Rub-A-Dub-Dub laundrette, suffered a shock exit against Chipping Norton. The west Oxfordshire club came out on top in a preliminary
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BOWLS: County sunk by Wilts whirlwind
Oxfordshire were blown away by Wiltshire's whirlwind finish as they went down 127-116 in their opening Middleton Cup Trial match at Chippenham Town. The visitors held the upper hand for much of the clash, leading 92-79 after 15 ends. But they had
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RUGBY UNION: Chinnor and Henley in early clash
Chinnor's first home game in National 3 South next season will be a derby with Henley Hawks. Henley will visit Kingsey Road on Saturday, September 13 with the return match at Dry Leas on Saturday, January 3. Chinnor open up with a trip to London Scottish
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AMERICAN FOOTBALL: Saints rumbled by mighty Thunder
Oxford Saints went down 10-0 to Sussex Thunder in the BAFL Division 1 Southern Conference on their new pitch at Oxford RFC. In a game dominated by defences, it was the Thunder who came up with the one good offensive play to claim victory. Sussex opened
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Town crier drums up support
Abingdon Town Crier Peter Green was in good voice as he toured the town to drum up new guild members. The Abingdon Guild of Town Criers believes that the group is unique to the town but fears that the tradition will not be able to continue without more
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Dance day drew crowds
A display of dances from across the world marked the launch of a series of events that will take place in Abingdon's Market Place. Shoppers and passers-by gathered to watch performances for Abingdon's International Dance Day. Among those taking part
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Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 69 BMW 2979 Electrocomponents 186.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 130 Oxford Biomedica 25.75 Oxford Catalysts 168.5 Oxford Instruments 210.75 Reed Elsevier 662 RM 206.75 RPS Group 334.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Abbey greets May Day with song
Singing at Dorchester Abbey greeted Bank Holiday Monday and raised money to help Aids orphans in Kenya. The group Two A Part sang from the tower and then in the abbey, a tradition going back 11 years. The money supports the Berinsfield-based Noah's
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Richard Longman
Richard Longman, a man who dedicated his life to his family, has died aged 87 after losing a two-year battle with cancer. Mr Longman was born in Iffley Village, Oxford, one of eight children. He joined the Royal Navy in 1940 and saw action in the Mediterranean
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The Insider
THOSE of us who take an interest in politics are an odd lot. No, we are. But those taking a particular interest in the minutiae of Oxford City Council are slightly more peculiar than the rest. I mean, who hangs around the Town Hall until the wee small
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Residents celebrate street's 50th
Residents broke out the bubbly at a special party to celebrate 50 years on the same estate. Tony and Sylvia Curran held the party at their home in Tyrrells Way, Sutton Courtenay, on Saturday. They were the first people to move into the former council
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100th birthday for Nellie
A Bicester woman celebrated her 100th birthday at the weekend. On Sunday, Helen Waller, known to friends as Nellie, was visited by family, received a birthday card from the Queen and enjoyed a slice of birthday cake at her home in Hertford Close.
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Jersey's the cream of the crop
"Stop!!!" The rush of upward movement came to a halt. I could see my new friends, smiling, grinning, holding on to the rope that the four of them pulling had hauled me up to this dizzying bungee-jumping height. All right, it might not be Queenstown,
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300 enjoy sailing open day
Seven-year-old Ryan Holmes was among more than 300 people who joined West Oxford Sailing Club's open day to have a go at sailing, rowing, diving, pond-dipping and canoeing. The sunshine brought families out in droves and organisers say more than 300
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Man found guilty of party assault
A man who put a father-of-one into a permanent coma after punching him at a party has been found guilty of GBH and will be jailed for a "substantial" amount of time. Thomas Hurley, 22, was found guilty by a jury at Oxford Crown Crown Court today of
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Indecent image accused due in court
A man is due to appear in court tomorrow charged with making indecent images of children. Philip Carmichael, 58, of Adkin Way, Wantage, has been charged with seven counts of making indecent images and four counts of possessing indecent images. He
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Election looms as Lib Dem quits
Elections are like buses. You wait two years for one to come along - and then two appear in a short space of time. And so it is at Oxford City Council after Richard Huzzey, the Liberal Democrat city councillor for Holywell, decided to quit his post
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Grab some free compost
Compost made from recycled waste in Cherwell is being given away to residents. To mark Compost Awareness Week, the district council and waste management company Agrivert are making bags of compost available at two events this weekend. The council
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Restaurant plan for church hall
There may not be loaves and fishes on the menu and it's unlikely the waiters will have mastered the art of turning water into wine. But a crumbling church hall in East Oxford could soon find a new lease of life as a restaurant. The Diocese of Oxford
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Fiddlers take a bow
What do you call a group of fiddlers? "A scrape?" suggests Jed Mugford, founder of the Oxford Fiddle Group and editor of Fiddle On magazine. "I don't think there actually is one," he adds. "OK, so what's the difference between a violin and a fiddle
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ATHLETICS: Owen doubles up
Ben Owen posted a sprint double as Radley kicked off their Southern League Division 3 West campaign with second place at Basingstoke In a competitive meeting, Radley finished just eight points behind the host club. Owen clocked 11.4secs to win the
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ATHLETICS: City's youngsters struggle in opener
Oxford City finished a distant last in their opening match in Southern Division 1 West of the National Young Athletes League at Basingstoke. An under-strength City could not compete in all events and they lost valuable points. However, there were
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ATHLETICS: Kimber holds off Harris bid
Steve Kimber continued where he left off in the winter, but had a battle to the line with Gary Harris as the 21st Mota-vation Series got under way at Charlton-on-Otmoor. Perfect conditions attracted a record field of 358 runners, and reigning senior
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Mosquito devices could be stopped
Mosquito devices designed to tackle antisocial behaviour could be switched off after concerns by police. The device emits an irritating frequency which only young people can hear, encouraging them to disperse. Devices have been used in Chipping Norton
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BAR BILLIARDS: Final joy for super Nelson
Nelson A sealed their place in the final of the Buildbase Oxford & District League's Scotland Ash Cup with a 3-2 win over Dolphin A. Steven Sheard gave Nelson the perfect start with an opening break of 10,000 in his 11,000-1,780 victory over Paul Caistor
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Murder probe: woman released
A 21-year-old woman arrested in connection with the death of a doorman outside a pub has been released without charge. Stephen Pinker, 42, of Witney, died after he was knifed in the throat in Hollow Way, Cowley, near The Corner House pub, on Tuesday
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'Persistant man' warning
Women are being warned to be on their guard from a "persistent" man harassing them in the street in East Oxford. Three women were approached while on their way home in the space of five days earlier this month, police have said. Officers are not sure
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Cinema plus help Moyles to gain on Wogan
"Titans head for battle of breakfast radio," said a headline last week in The Times. Who are those titans? Radio 2's Terry Wogan, it would seem, and his Radio 1 rival Chris Moyles (who is at least of titanic proportions). They are struggling to see who
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Our critics praised while London's reviewers damned
The 50th anniversary of the first performances of Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party is being celebrated by a new production of the play which opens on Monday at the Lyric, Hammersmith. Now recognised as one of the 20th century landmarks in European theatre
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All dry as the flood raged
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, along comes Flood (ITV1). Like all ITV drama, it was sponsored by Sainsbury's "Taste the Difference" but I couldn't taste any difference from most of the disaster movies ever made. It was as full
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Couple's happy chickens lay top-quality eggs
What began as an interesting hobby to keep Gordon and Joy Lyall in fresh free-range eggs during their retirement years has turned into a full-time family enterprise at their home in New Yatt, near Witney. The couple retired there in 1995, having spent
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Asparagus with hollandaise sauce recipe
Eggs and asparagus go well together, particularly when you use the eggs to make a Hollandaise sauce. As local asparagus is now readily available, try using fresh free-range eggs to create this sauce, which takes no time at all to make. Indeed, it can
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Warning issued to women
POLICE today warned people in East Oxford that a number of women have been approached by a man late at night. There have been three incidents in the last week in the Iffley Road area where a man has approached women on their way home and tried to engage
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Speed Racer
Go, Speed Racer, Go!" Based on the Japanese animated series, Speed Racer signals the return of Andy and Larry Wachowski, the publicity-shy brothers who pioneered 'bullet time' in The Matrix trilogy. There are souped-up thrills here too, set in a retro-futuristic
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Honeydripper, Un Secret and I Served the King of England
Screen history is pocked with African-American musicals showcasing stars who were rarely allowed to exhibit their talents in mainstream pictures. Indeed, on the rare occasions when the likes of Lena Horne, Bill Bojangles' Robinson or the Nicholas Brothers
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Eynsham Choral Society: St Leonard's Church
It's been a topsy-turvy kind of a spring. Oxfordshire saw snow in April, and the BBC contributed by publishing the 2008 Proms programme a month early. So it somehow came as no surprise to find Eynsham Choral Society staging the Last Night of the Proms
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Dara O'Briain: New Theatre
There is an explosive quality to this magnificent stand-up. Dara O'Briain began his set at machine-gun pace and simply did not let up for a moment. Anyone who knows this burly Irishman from his presenting the admirable Mock The Week on television has
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Asaf Sirkis and the Inner Noise, the Spin
Asaf Sirkis (pictured) is best known to many as the drummer with Gilad Atzmon's Orient Ensemble, but his more personal venture, the Inner Noise, was formed while he was still working in Israel. Bringing the musical ideas to Britain, Sirkis reformed the
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The Merry Widow, English National Opera, London Coliseum,
The arrival in Paris of rich widow Hanna Glawari sets the cat among the diplomatic pigeons at the Pontevedrian embassy, as they try to prevent her - and her F20m fortune - falling into French hands. Cue shenanigans in sheds, ethnic dancing, the taking
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A Doll's House, Oxford Playhouse
One of the more downbeat entries in the theatrical canon, A Doll's House is nevertheless a perfect slice of Scandinavian miserablism. It focuses on a young housewife, Nora Helmer (Tilly Gaunt), who seems to be having her cake and eating it for all to
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Local Landscapes: West Ox Arts Gallery
Welcome Ken Messer to Artweeks with his peaceful rural and architectural scenes. First an accountant, then an airline steward, he become an artist. Self taught, he was spotted by Ruskin Spear, won a £10 painting competition run by the Daily Telegraph
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FOOTBALL: Faringdon eye up cup double
Faringdon Town completed the first part of their quest for a cup double with a 3-0 victory against Botley United in the final of the North Berks Charity Shield at Abingdon United. The North Berks Cup finalists took the lead on 22 minutes when Paul Hulme
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Preview of The Soldier\s Tale, various venues
The moral of The Soldier's Tale, by Igor Stravinsky, libretto by C.F.Ramuz, is as hard-hitting now as it was when first performed in 1918. Essentially this tale informs us that no one can have it all, which in today's world of financial greed is particularly
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French and Saunders, New Theatre, Oxford
No one needs to be told who Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders are. They have, as Dawn told us at one point, been performing together for 30 years and have had huge successes on television both separately and together. The Vicar of Dibley and Absolutely
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Birmingham Royal Ballet, Cheltenham
Here is a triple bill that demonstrates the emotional versatility of this terrific company. It ranges from the anguish of Ashton's Dante Sonata to the heights of camp hilarity in Kenneth MacMillan's Elite Syncopations, with a cool abstract work by the
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The Taming of the Shrew, RSC, Stratford-upon-Avon
After a staid and notably gimmick-free production of The Merchant of Venice at Stratford, the same players offer us, by contrast, a Taming of the Shrew whose rollicking tone borders on the excessive. The slapstick approach keeps us smiling throughout
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Man rescued from building site
A MAN was rescued from a building site today after injuring his back. Firefighters used a hydraulic platform to get the man down from the top of a first-floor flat roof in Witney Street, Burford, shortly after 10.30am today. The man was taken to
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European Champs
Off to Portugal first thing Friday for the European Championships so am looking forward to the first big race of the season. Unfortunately it's looking like the weather is going to be better here than there - heavy rain is forecast for Lisbon - but hopefully
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Man rescued from building site
A man had to be rescued from a building site after apparently injuring his back. Firefighters used a hydraulic platform to get the man down from the top of a first floor flat roof in Witney Street, Burford, shortly after 10.30am today, and he was
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The sun has got his hat on
I can understand how the Americans feel in New Mexico… keeping control of your borders is a monumental task. That is either a rather unreasonable comparison or the worst gag ever. Let me know. I have just spent two hours attempting to tame the grass
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Blenheim ahoy
Just a month to the Blenheim Triathlon and I am feeling a real buzz of excitement already. It was the event that got me into this highly addictive sport and I can't wait for the first feeling of that water. It was great last year because so many people
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Reservoir: 'Work is essential'
Thames Water has branded its proposed £1billion reservoir near Abingdon as essential. Thames Water's chief executive David Owen said building the reservoir, on farmland between between Abingdon and Wantage was crucial but some residents whose homes
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Deer crash causes A34 delays
DRIVERS were delayed on the A34 today after a car hit a deer near Abingdon. The accident happened before 7am on the northbound carriageway, between the Marcham and Milton interchange, close to the Marcham junction. The accident blocked one lane for
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Plan unveiled to beat water shortages
MEASURES to increase the use of water meters, cut leaks and improve water efficiency have been unveiled as part of plans by Thames Water to prevent severe shortages in the future. The plans are among a package of proposals for delivering water supplies
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Traffic delays after car hits deer
Drivers were delayed on the A34 this morning after a car hit a deer near Abingdon. The accident happened before 7am on the northbound carriageway, between the Marcham and Milton interchange, close to the Marcham junction. The accident blocked one lane
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BlackBerry plan to improve policing
BLACKBERRYS are the latest gadget being given to police officers in Oxfordshire in a bid to get them out of the station and back on to the beat. Every neighbourhood officer in the county will be handed a BlackBerry phone in a £637,000 scheme to make
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Sewers create a stink
PEOPLE living on an Oxford estate are being plagued by foul-smelling sewers. Residents of Ridgeway Road and Forest Road, in Risinghurst, said the stench coming from their sewers was so bad that at times they had to cover their noses - and it had been
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Naked Godivas wanted
WOMEN horse-riders across Oxfordshire are being urged to join a mass Lady Godiva-style naked ride to raise funds for charity. The ride through London's Hyde Park is in aid of Maggie's Centres, a cancer support charity which has a base at the Churchill
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Beat Bobbies going higher tech
BlackBerrys are the latest gadget being given to police officers in Oxfordshire in a bid to get them out of the station and back on to the beat. Every neighbourhood officer in the county will be handed a BlackBerry phone in a £637,000 scheme to make
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Post office closures will start next month
The death knell has sounded for 22 of Oxfordshire's sub post offices - with the first to close as early as June 3. Despite tireless community campaigning, Post Office Ltd offered no concessions to Oxfordshire and will now press ahead with axing all
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Horton campaigners praised
CAMPAIGNERS who helped save The Horton Hospital in Banbury from cuts in children's and maternity services have been officially commended. Banbury Town Council agreed a special resolution praising council member George Parish and the Keep the Horton
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Assault pair warned to expect jail
TWO 21-year-old men who admitted grievous bodily harm with intent have been warned they face jail. Charles Bough, of Sandy Lane, Oxford, and James O'Brien, of Wingate Close, Oxford, were remanded in custody to await sentence at Oxford Crown Court on
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Super day for comic fans
HUNDREDS of comic book fans flocked to an Oxford shop to get their hands on free comics. Videosyncratic, in Cowley Road, was handing out free superhero offerings on Saturday as part of the worldwide Free Comic Book Day. Store owner Jon Spira said
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Rally backing looks risqué
TWO students from East Oxford are to embark on a 10,000-mile journey to Mongolia - in a 19-year-old limousine with an artificial turf roof. James Anderson, 21, and Alex Hill, 22, hope to complete this year's Mongol Rally - a charity event in which
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Reservoir consultation starts
Public consultation has opened on controversial proposals to build a massive reservoir between Abingdon and Wantage. Thames Water today published its Water Resources Management Plan, which describes the Oxfordshire reservoir as essential to meet demand
