Archive
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Burglars 'befriend' drunken students
Burglars are picking off revellers staggering home drunk from a night out, then following them to break into their homes, police have warned. At least four incidents in Oxford during the last two weeks are being investigated by police who believe many
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Strike off as deal struck
Strike action by more than 400 staff at eight First Great Western train maintenance depots, including Oxford, has been called off. Sunday's 24-hour strike was cancelled after FGW reached an agreement with transport union RMT over working hours and pay
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Homes repossessions rise by a quarter
A growing number of Oxfordshire families face losing their homes as the credit crunch pushes up mortgage payments. Records published by the Ministry of Justice show mortgage providers started legal action against 191 households at Oxford County Court
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Flood team nominated for award
A crack team of council workers who helped evacuate scores of west Oxfordshire residents from their homes during flooding last year have been nominated for a national award. West Oxfordshire District Council's flood response team has been shortlisted
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Postal sorting to move to Swindon
MORE than 400 Royal Mail workers today received final confirmation the Oxford Mail Centre would close as the company shifts its sorting operation to Swindon. About 430 staff at the office in Cowley were briefed by senior Royal Mail managers about the
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Private hire operator fined
A PRIVATE hire vehicle operator has been given a £1,600 court bill for employing a driver without the correct licence. Angela Spendlove, 62, owner of Advanced Cars and Absolute Touring at North Leigh, was prosecuted by West Oxfordshire District Council
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Royal Mail sorting will move
More than 400 Royal Mail workers today received final confirmation the Oxford Mail Centre would close as the company shifts its sorting operation to Swindon. Around 430 staff at the office in Cowley were briefed by senior Royal Mail bosses about the
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Mondays to play at Blenheim festival
DANCE-ROCK band the Happy Mondays have been booked to play Oxfordshire's newest music festival. The Manchester act, known for their hedonistic lifestyles and outrageous antics, both on- and off-stage, are the latest additions to an impressive line-up
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Dalai Lama to pay rare visit
BUDDHISTS in Oxford are looking forward to welcoming the Dalai Lama to Oxford at the end of the month. The Dalai Lama is a figurehead of the Buddhist community across the world and the Tibetan leader is coming to Oxford at a time of tension between
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Purse so relieved to get chance
Former Oxford United defender Darren Purse is just relieved he gets a chance to play at Wembley. Purse was shown a red card during Cardiff's 3-3 draw with Burnley on April 26, after a tackle with Andy Cole, the former Manchester United forward, which
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Westgate developers join OX5 run
The firm behind the £330m redevelopment of Oxford's Westgate Shopping Centre is building a team to take part in the OX5 Run in aid of the city's children's hospital. The five-mile run around the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock was due to take
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Mondays to play at the palace
Legendary dance-rock band the Happy Mondays have been booked to play Oxfordshire's newest music festival. The Manchester act, known for their hedonistic lifestyles and outrageous antics, both on and off stage, are the latest additions to an impressive
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No mercy for this predator
Predators like David Aston deserve no sympathy. Even Judge Julian Hall, who in the past has earned a reputation for being lenient with some sex offenders, appeared to have little patience with him. He warned him at Oxford Crown Court yesterday that
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Resident claims Scout Hut cash ‘wasted’
A community has voiced concerns over access to an Oxford Scout Hut that was given more than £100,000 in public money for improvements. The 10th Oxford Scout group was given £120,000 in April last year to make improvements to its hut on the corner of
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Classroom for tots takes shape
Work is under way to build a new £398,000 classroom to house some of the youngest pupils at an Oxford primary school. The new classroom, at St Christopher's Primary School in Temple Road, Cowley, will be ready for the new school year in September and
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Tibetan leader pays rare visit
Buddhists in Oxford are looking forward to welcoming the Dalai Lama to Oxford at the end of the month. The Dalai Lama is a figurehead of the Buddhist community across the world and the Tibetan leader is coming to Oxford at a time of tension between
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University appeals for £1bn
Oxford University is to launch the biggest fundraising campaign in its history at the end of the month. The staggering scale of the university's ambitions will be set out at a major media event at the British Academy in London by Chancellor Lord Patten
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Burmese need city's help
The devastation and suffering in cyclone-hit Burma might seem a distant concern in Oxford, but people in the city are being urged to do whatever they can to help. Sara Clarke, an English graduate from Oxford University and a former president of the
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Has Nikki got the X Factor?
A wannabe pop star is gearing up to come face-to-face with TV personality Simon Cowell. Nikki Stook, exhibitions co-ordinator at the Oxford Mail, will join hundreds of hopefuls for a nail-biting X Factor audition in Birmingham tomorrow. The 34-year-old
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Teens aim to smash cycle ride record
Two Oxfordshire teenagers are gearing up for an attempt to break the record for the fastest bike ride from Land's End to John O'Groats by a team of under-18s. Liam Smith and Will Lloyd, both 16, will tackle the mammoth cycle in aid of the British Heart
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Youth theatre cash grants on offer
Young people looking to put on their first theatrical productions are being offered the chance to get cash to make their dreams become a reality. The Pegasus Theatre, in Magdalen Road, Oxford, is one of four venues in the South East taking part in the
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City by-election candidates named
THE candidates hoping for election to Oxford City Council in next month's Holywell by-election have been announced today. The by-election has been called after 25-year-old Liberal Democrat Richard Huzzey confirmed he was to take up a research post at
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Website set up for homophobia victims
Victims of homophobic crimes are being encouraged to report incidents online. Members of Oxfordshire's Homophobic Awareness Liaison Team (HALT) will be visiting venues in Oxford tonight to promote the website www.oxhalt.co.uk to mark the International
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Student robbed at knifepoint
A STUDENT was attacked and robbed at knifepoint as he walked through Oxford early today. Between 3.30am and 4am, the 20-year-old was walking back from Oxford towards Headington along St Clements Street. When he reached the junction with Rectory Road
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Today's local share prices (PM)
AEA Technology 68 BMW 2933 Electrocomponents 178 Nationwide Accident Repair 141 Oxford Biomedica 23.75 Oxford Catalyst 169.5 Oxford Instruments 228 Reed Elsevier 654.75 RM 207.25 RPS Group 341.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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Hooded robbers target student
Three hooded men robbed a student at knifepoint in Oxford during the early hours of this morning. The 20-year-old man was walking along St Clements Street when he was confronted by three men at the junction with Rectory Road some time between 3.30am
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Bloxham Girls u13s
Click here to see a full gallery of pictures from the Girls League
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Benson Girls u14s
Click here to see a full gallery of pictures from the Girls League
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Adderbury Girls u12a
Click here to see a full gallery of pictures from the Girls League
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Banbury Girls u12s
Click here to see a full gallery of pictures from the Girls League
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triathlon team raises funds for young people's theatre
Four women have teamed up to enter the Blenheim Triathlon on 7th June to raise money towards the Pegasus Theatre fundraising campaign, Building The Future, for the redevelopment of the delapidated premises they are currently using. Alison Partridge
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Dimbleby comes out of the cold
It's normally Jonathan Dimbleby asking the questions. Whether he's interviewing the Prince of Wales or Gorbachev, little gets past this BBC journalist. But now the tables have turned and he's here to talk about his new TV series and book Russia, in which
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The Oxfordshire Cotswolds - 'rural England at its finest'
Green rolling hills, dry stone walls, villages of honey coloured stone, riverside meadows ablaze with wild flowers, a landscape dotted with buildings and monuments commemorating figures from the past and market towns alive with the bustle and vitality
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Holywell runners and riders announced
The candidates seeking election to Oxford City Council in next month's Holywell by-election have been announced today. The by-election has been called after 25-year-old Liberal Democrat Richard Huzzey confirmed he was to take up a research post at Yale
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Man labelled 'bizarre predator'
A JUDGE has labelled a man who encouraged young girls to kick him in the groin a 'bizarre predator'. Driving instructor David Aston, 32, is facing jail after enticing the teenagers - aged 13 and 14 - into satisfying his "bizarre" sexual tastes
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Put trees at root of any Grand Design, says trust
A guide to tackle housing and commercial development demolition of Britain's priceless and irreplaceable ancient trees has been launched by the Woodland Trust, the UK's leading woodland conservation charity. Prompted by increasing tree losses in the
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Shipton cruise against Minster
Shipton-under-Wychwood posted the highest total of the season so far as they beat Minster Lovell by 103 runs in Group A of the Oxfordshire Under 13 League. Batting first, Shipton rattled up 142-5 from their 20 overs, thanks to Jake Taylor and Archie
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Classy Cook is hot stuff
Richard Cook hit an unbeaten half century as Didcot beat Horspath by 112 runs in Group B of the Nationwide Under 15 Club Championship. Batting first, Alex Scanlan and Henry Latimer put on 32 for the first wicket, before Cook joined Latimer to take the
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Morris puts Bucks in a spin
Fritha Morris took six wickets and conceded just six runs in a remarkable spell that included three wicket maidens and a hat-trick as Oxfordshire Under 15s eased to victory against Buckinghamshire at Chalgrove. Bucks opted to bat first and were soon
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Coles inspires Oxon triumph
Jamie Coles produced a match-winning performance to steer Oxfordshire Under 14s to a six-wicket victory over Buckinghamshire at Bicester. The visitors won the toss and batted first, but Oxfordshire's opening bowlers produced miserly spells to put the
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CPRE chief Bill Bryson says 'stop the drop'!
The president of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), author Bill Bryson, has launched Stop the Drop, the charity's major campaign against the growing blight of litter and fly-tipping in England's countryside. Stop the Drop will highlight
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TV expert drops in on city home
BBC property programme Open House is on the road again looking at homes where the vendors are staging events to help them sell their property. Presenter Kristian Digby and the team are filming the second series of Open House throughout the summer.
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Lancaster blitz not quite enough
A fine bowling performance from Nick Lancaster could not inpsire Oxfordshire Under 11s to victory in their opening match of the season against Summerfield School. Lancaster took 4-15 in an excellent spell, but Summerfield held on at 107-7 to secure
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Anti-hate crime website launched
A NEW website to help make it easy to report homophobic hate crime in Oxfordshire is online. Members of the the county's Homophobia Awareness Liaison Team (HALT) will be out in Oxford tonight to promote the site www.oxhalt.co.uk and to mark the International
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Groin kick pervert is 'bizarre predator'
A judge has labelled a man who encouraged young girls to kick him in the groin a 'bizarre predator'. Driving instructor David Aston, 32, is facing jail after enticing the teenagers - aged 13 and 14 - into satisfying his "bizarre" sexual tastes by bribing
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Praise for bus drivers
Living in Oxford with only a bike to take me to work, to carry all the supermarket shopping, and to get to social engagements, I am grateful to Oxford's bus drivers. They could so easily miss bicycles in their rear view mirror, but they always pause
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We're all going downhill fast
Abandon ship, man the lifeboats, HMS Great Britain is slowly sinking beneath the waves. Britain used to run the world, but now it couldn't run a booze-up in a brewery. Our so-called Government is now omnipotent and pays only lip service to the electorate
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CRICKET: Hamza slams a terrific ton
Hamza Hussain slammed his maiden county century as Oxfordshire Under 13s enjoyed a comprehensive victory over Berkshire at Stonesfield. Hussain's superb innings came off just 79 balls - his second 50 taking only 25 deliveries. Batting first, Oxon
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Farmer is calling it a day at 92
One of the few remaining privately owned farms withing the Oxford Ring Road has been put up for sale. The decision to sell Hill View Farm, Marston, has reluctantly been taken by 92-year-old Wally Ward after his grandchildren declined the opportunity
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ANGLING: Kevin in big carp coup
One of the best catches of carp for a long time has come from Linear Fisheries' St John's Lake by third-year Sparsholt College student Kevin Grout, writes ANDY WEBBER. Kevin, who has been on work experience at the Stanton Harcourt big-fish complex,
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Charlotte the star for City swimmers
City of Oxford's Charlotte Alsop led the way in the Kingerlee Swimming Trophy at Stantonbury Campus Pool in Milton Keynes. Five City swimmers were selected for the Oxfordshire and North Bucks ASA junior county team, and along with 12-year-old Alsop,
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BOXING: Banbury grab three victories
The Banbury gym had a highly-successful excursion to Adams Park in High Wycombe, with all three of their boxers having their arms raised in triumph. Ayaz Mohammed proved too slick on the counter as he mesmerised Slough's Sean Richardson to claim all
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Residents offered Dragons' Den advice
Budding entrepreneurs have been encouraged to make use of a new advice service that could turn their business dreams into reality. The Business Link Enterprise Gateway Service has set up home in the Leys Linx Centre, in Blackbird Leys Road, Oxford.
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SNOOKER: Woodstock seal title despite loss
A shock 4-2 defeat at the hands of Green Road A could not deny Woodstock A the Gentworks Oxford & District Snooker League Division 1 title. Woodstock's Stuart Reeve lost both his frames against Ray Benwell, before Andy Benwell made it 3-0. Neil Grant
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OUP status attacked
The charity tax exemption of publishers Oxford University Press is coming under increasing fire from rival companies after a change in regulations. From April 1 this year all charities must show their activities have a clear "public benefit". They
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Club reaches out to Africa
Witney's Rotary Club is reaching out to poor teenagers in Africa. It has set up a link with another Rotary Club in Johannesburg, South Africa, to support an educational project. With the help of The Rotary Foundation, which raises money to improve
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ATHLETICS: Wonder Wright steals show
James Wright stole the show in the North Oxfordshire Schools Athletics Trials. The Marlborough School, Woodstock pupil smashed the triple jump record by a huge 74cm in the intermediate boys - the second time he beat the previous best leap on the day
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Track bookies feel the pinch
A quiet night at the greyhound track on Tuesday has led to the Oxford bookmakers requesting management to reconsider bringing open racing back in midweek. There wasn't a lot of business and one bookie had hardly covered his costs at the half-way stage
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Hips 'not benefitting' the homes market
The Government's latest delay in the introduction of home information packs for all properties and its claim that HIPS is benefitting consumers has brought criticism from agents around the county. HIPS has been plagued by delays and last-minute changes
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CRICKET: Henry Box are sunk
Henry Box School's under 13 cricket team, who had lost just once, were beaten by Warwick School in the David English Cup. Representing Oxfordshire as county champions in the national competition, Henry Box came up against a very strong, unbeaten Warwick
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Kimberley is national judo champ
Kimberly Miles became the White Horse judo club's first junior national champion with a notable success at Hereford. Competing in the Over 60kg category, Miles won all 18 of her fights with Ippon (ten-point straight win) to capture the gold medal.
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Wine quiz
I know we're not quite at the final May Bank Holiday but as this coincides with English Wine Week, I've decided to run the May Bank Holiday Wine Quiz a little early. So, whether you whiz through it now or decide to keep it until the holiday, good luck
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Today's local share prices
AEA Technology 68 BMW 2956 Electrocomponents 180 Nationwide Accident Repair 141 Oxford Biomedica 24 Oxford Catalyst 169.5 Oxford Instruments 219 Reed Elsevier 656 RM 208.5 RPS Group 340.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
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CRICKET: Green is all-round hero for Bicester
Reece Green starred for Bicester in their 76-run win over Cheney (Oxford) in the Under 15 Daily Telegraph Twenty20 Cup. Green hit 43 in Bicester's 126-5 and took 5-22 as Cheney were bowled out for 50. Josh Salisbury took four wickets in four overs without
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Joe makes table tennis history
Joe Cheong entered the record books when he won the Didcot and District's junior closed table tennis championship for the fifth time. In the final against his fellow Moreton club member, James Goldsby-West, consistent Cheong triumphed 11-5 in the third
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CRICKET: Lord Bills get off the mark
Lord Williams's School, Thame recorded their first win of the cricket season with a three-wicket triumph over Stowe. With opening bowler Mike Morgan (3-28) in fine form, Stowe were bowled out for 158 in 40 overs. An opening partnership of 51 between
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Police chase shoplifters across county
Thieves were chased across the county by police after stealing cosmetics from a shop. Police said two people stole about £300 worth of Rimmel cosmetics from Boots, in Witney, at 2.10pm last Thursday. Pc Andy Ball said the shoplifters were chased through
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Wines for spring, £63
With May Day behind us and the haunting sound of the medieval Eucharist hymn having echoed from the tower of Magdalen College to usher in the spring, the time is right for a seasonal celebration. We have put together a mixed case of wines that are perfect
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Man guilty of child-sex charges
A DRIVING instructor was today found guilty of a string of child sex offences. David Aston, 32, of Bell Close, Cassington, denied sexual activity with a child, causing or enticing children to engage in sexual activity and making indecent photos of children
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Groin kick man found guilty
A driving instructor was today found guilty of a string of child sex offences. David Aston, 32, of Bell Close, Cassington, denied sexual activity with a child, causing or enticing children to engage in sexual activity and making indecent photos of children
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Police patrol at rape location
POLICE will be patrolling a nature reserve exactly a week after a teenage girl was raped and her friend sexually assaulted. The two 16-year-old girls were in Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve last Saturday between 8.30pm and 9.30pm when they were assaulted
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Police patrol at rape location
Police will be patrolling a nature reserve tonight exactly a week after a teenage girl was raped and her friend sexually assaulted. The two 16-year-old girls were in Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve last Saturday between 8.30pm and 9.30pm when they were
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Private hire driver fined
A private hire vehicle operator has been given a £1,600 court bill for employing a driver without the correct licence. Angela Spendlove, 62, owner of Advanced Cars and Absolute Touring at North Leigh, was prosecuted by West Oxfordshire District Council
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Roads closed for run
Several roads will be closed on Sunday to provide space for the Town and Gown Fun Run in the city centre. Norham Road, Crick Road, Bradmore Road, Fyfield Road, Norham Gardens, Parks Road, South Parks Road, St Cross Road, Longwall Street, Jowett Walk
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ATHLETICS: My acid test
Running appears to be a fast-growing sport in Oxford as increasing numbers of people pound the city's streets with varying degrees of seriousness. The trend is also shown by the growth of specialist shops as well as an increase in running gear being
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Big turn off
I really can't get excited about this year's FA Cup final. I know it's nice to see some different teams in the final, but it just doesn't have the same appeal now. I hope Portsmouth win as I think Harry Redknap is a cracking manager and one who has done
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Girl, 14, goes missing
POLICE today appealed for help in tracing a missing girl from Marcham. Emma Thomas, 14, was last seen in Oxford city centre on Tuesday. PC Denise Trafford, Missing Persons Co-ordinator, said: "Emma was seen by a friend coming out of McDonald's in
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Police search for missing teenager
Police are appealing for the whereabouts of a missing teenage girl. Emma Thomas, 14, of Marcham, near Abingdon, was last seen in Oxford city centre on Tuesday. Pc Denise Trafford, Missing Persons Co-ordinator, said: "Emma was seen by a friend coming
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Five caught in underage drink test
ALMOST half of licensed premises in Thame tested by police were caught selling alcohol to underage drinkers. Police carried out a test-purchasing operation on 11 pubs, bars and shops in Thame on Friday, May 9. The five failures were pubs Cross Keys
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Fire crews tackle house blazes
NEIGHBOURS alerted emergency crews after they saw smoke coming from the side of a house in Milton Common, near Thame, today. Firefighters arrived at the house in London Road at 6.53am, where they discovered a fire in a small oil-burning boiler in the
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Rail staff strike halted
STRIKE action by more than 400 train staff at eight First Great Western stations including Oxford has been called off. A 24-hour strike on Sunday was cancelled after the company dropped plans to extend the use of engineering contractors. The firm
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Teenager 'sparks carrot sales surge'
AN Oxfordshire teenager could be behind a surge in global carrot sales after setting up a page on Facebook urging people to "panic buy" the vegetable. Supermarkets are bracing themselves after more than 230,000 people joined Freya Valentine's group
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Actors at sharp end of history
ACTORS putting on a production of Horrible Histories in Oxford are marking the anniversary of the beheading of Anne Boleyn in particularly dramatic style. Monday is the 472th anniversary of the former queen's untimely demise. And to mark the occasion
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Train staff strike halted
Strike action by more than 400 train staff at eight First Great Western maintenance depots including Oxford has been called off. A 24-hour strike on Sunday was cancelled after the company dropped plans to extend the use of engineering contractors. The
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Staff chased shoplifters
POLICE today appealed for witnesses after £300 worth of Rimmel cosmetics was stolen from Boots in Witney. PC Andy Ball, based at Witney police station, said: "The offenders were chased by staff through the centre of Witney and most of the stolen items
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Town shops and bars fail tests
Almost half of licensed premises in Thame tested by police were caught selling alcohol to underage drinkers. Police carried out a test-purchasing operation on 11 pubs, bars and shops in Thame on Friday May 9. Details were only released yesterday. The
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Crews tackle two house fires
Neighbours alerted emergency crews after they saw smoke coming from the side of a house in Milton Common, near Thame, this morning. Firefighters arrived at the house in London Road at 6.53am, where they discovered a fire in a small oil burning boiler
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'African staff gang up on me'
RACE equality council managers in Oxford refused to give an employee the pay rise he had been promised because he was the wrong kind of black man, a tribunal has heard. Nolan Victory claims his managers - who were all black - ignored his complaints
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No-fee parking 'cost £870,000'
COUNTY Hall came under fire last night after figures showed £870,000 of potential revenue had been lost since on-street parking charges were waived. Oxfordshire County Council introduced free parking in on-street spaces such as Broad Street, St Giles
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Staff shortage may shut pool
BLACKBIRD Leys Swimming Pool may be shut tomorrow because of staffing problems, Oxford City Council has warned. Long-standing staff shortages meant the council was forced to cancel several sessions at the pool and the pool at Peers Sports Centre last
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Busy weekend ahead on Chiltern trains
Chiltern Railways trains are expected to be very busy all weekend, due to the closure of the main Virgin Trains Birmingham-London route for engineering work and the football finals at Wembley tomorrow and on Sunday. Modified timetables will be in operation
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Movie master tops the bill
Tonight sees the start of the Steven Spielberg Film Festival - opening in style with the screening of the blockbuster director's first ever film - Duel. A taut, nail-biting thriller from 1971 about a truck driver who terrorises a motorist on a lonely
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Vulnerable
Cyclists are vulnerable in Oxford's narrow streets, particularly where cycle lanes suddenly end. Moves to alert other road users to the dangers, by erecting 'Think bike' signs, appear to have stalled. Let's hope Doreen Barker's touching letter on
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Let's have a floods minister
No-one could accuse the Environment Agency of not doing at least something to alleviate the threat of flooding in parts of Oxford. But we get the feeling that we are really only tinkering with the problem. The question is - will the £1.8m scheme outlined
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Mazda spices up hatch range
MAZDA'S medium-sized family car, the Mazda3, represents better value for money with a number of specification enhancements. The £18,995 top-of-the-range Mazda3 MPS, which is powered by a 260 horsepower 2.3-litre turbocharged engine, comes with additional
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Nasty turn
Sir - In the hard-fought election in Charlbury a disturbing seam in local politics was revealed. Prominent leaflets by the Conservative candidate Mrs Hill told the electorate that it was vital for them to elect a Conservative for a voice that really
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Free parking costs city £850,000
County Hall came under fire last night after figures showed more than £850,000 of potential revenue had been lost since on-street parking charges were waived. Oxfordshire County Council introduced free parking in on-street spaces such as Broad Street
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Dereliction of duty
Sir - The city council's leisure services department plans to lease Alexandra Tennis Courts to Wildwood Leisure because the courts 'are making a loss.' Surely this statement is meaningless: Alexandra Courts are an affordable, and high quality, sports
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Flood relief plan for city unveiled
A £1.8M package of measures to reduce flood risk in Oxford is being unveiled. The Environment Agency says it has finalised a list of measure that "will make a real difference" to thousands of homes and businesses living under the threat of a repeat
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Old friends support hospice charity
TWO organisers of a 1970s inspired school reunion have made an emotional donation to the Sobell House hospice, Oxford. Former classmates Lorraine Ludbrook and Agatha Harris handed £700 to the hospice after asking their old school pals for donations
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Pushing boundaries
Sir - I think councillor Michael Gotch (Letters, May 9) is being slightly disingenuous in suggesting I am dodging the issue of where the extra 50,000 houses are to go. As a Liberal activist and (from May 1) an Oxford city councillor, he will know
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Can you put a 'for sale' sign in your car?
THERE IS no law against selling a car privately - or is there? Consumer magazine Which? is warning motorists to check their local council's by-laws after one driver parked her car in a north London street, left a 'for sale' notice in the window, and
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Raising standards
Sir - Your article Schools under pressure to improve results (May 2) draws attention to a summit to which local authorities will be invited to tackle poor GCSE results. At the summit local authorities will be encouraged to consider a number of options
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Firefighters back safety pledge
FIREFIGHTERS have urged the public to sign up to an Internet pledge aiming to save hundreds of lives across the county. The Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has added the three step pledge to the website of its 365 Alive safety campaign. The website
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£1.8m flood measures unveiled
Branches of the River Thames in the west and south of Oxford are to be cleared out and new temporary barriers bought to reduce the risk of flooding in the city. The Environment Agency has finalised a £1.8m package of schemes it claims "will make a real
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Ford’s focus is on fun flagship
FLAGSHIPS make a bold statement for the rest of a car range, and it is in the family car sector where they matter most. Even if a driver is sitting in a lowlier, lesser-powered version of a range's racier leader, there's a nice warm feeling of kinship
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Roadtest: Sultan of bling
WHEN I first drove Chrysler's 300C I was convinced I was riding in the supreme King of Bling. I was wrong. Chrysler has taken its big beast and draped it in yet more ostentatious jewellery. If passers-by just about managed to ignore the standard
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Rail users warned of Wembley delays
CHILTERN Railways trains are expected to be very busy all weekend, due to the closure of the main Virgin Trains Birmingham-London route for engineering work and football finals at Wembley on Saturday and Sunday. Modified timetables will be in operation
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Passengers' plea as profits rise
A PASSENGER group has called on Oxfordshire rail operator First Great Western to invest more money in its network after its parent company reported a sharp rise in its fortunes. FirstGroup said its annual operating profits reached £360.1m for the year
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Police launch 'surgery' days
AN ASSAULT and disputes between neighbours were among subjects aired at the launch of a new police office in Oxford. Barton's neighbourhood policing team hope estate residents will realise it's good to talk at a weekly walk-in surgery, which will give
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New management
Some serious questions need to be asked about the management of Oxford's leisure services. There has been concern for some time about whether the service is providing value for money, and, on a number of occasions in the past, there have been serious
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Young poet wins top prize
A POEM inscribed on a tiny scrap of paper has won the regional round of a prestigious human rights poetry competition. Oxford schoolgirl Aditi Gaddam, a pupil at St Clare's, Banbury Road, was named the Midlands winner for Amnesty International's
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Anger voiced at Cherie memoirs
THE family of Oxfordshire weapons expert David Kelly has criticised Cherie Blair for dredging up his death in her controversial memoirs. Dr Kelly, who lived in Southmoor, died in 2003 following reports in the media that the Government had "sexed-up
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Helpful bunch
Sir - I lost a bunch of keys in Oxford city centre (probably Broad Street) on Saturday. Fortunately I was able to retrieve them from St Aldate's police station on Monday, but I should like to thank several people. First, the person who took the trouble
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Tasters invited to break world record
A PUB deputy manager is calling on wine connoisseurs and novices alike to take part in a world record wine tasting event. Robby Warrior, deputy manager at The William Morris in Pound Way, Cowley, Oxford, is staging the event as part of the pub's 19
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Dodgy arguments
Sir - Michael Tyce (Letters, May 9) may or may not be right about wind turbines - and I suspect that he is right - but his usual rant about climate change is based on very dodgy arguments and even worse maths. His claim that "for the last 70 years
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Plan for flats goes to appeal
DEVELOPERS wanting to knock down a block of buildings in Oxford to make way for student housing are taking their case to appeal. Permission to demolish buildings along Cowley Road, including the Majestic Wine Warehouse, Mr Clutch garage, Nabeel Fashion
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Criminal negligence
Sir - May I take your editorial (May 2) about the new Westgate Centre bringing new blood to Oxford a little further? Introducing extra new blood into an existing system runs the risk of thrombosis, though in Oxford's case users of the city's arteries
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Proud involvement
Sir - While it is good to know that Martin Thomas has sent his last letter on the subject of the re-organisation of the city's schools in 2001, given his most recent comments (May 9), he cannot be allowed to have the last word. The governors of Oxford
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Source of celebration
Sir - Martin Thomas (Letters, May 9) is wrong in attempting to establish a connection between the increasingly distant city reorganisation and the movement of Peers and Oxford Community Schools to Academy and Foundation status respectively. A mixed
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Well-designed homes
Sir - I would like to take issue with David Widdowson (Letters, May 9). Compared with the rest of the country, Oxford has no need for a purpose-built concert hall. The Sheldonian, Playhouse and Apollo exist for the larger events and all the colleges
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Site too small
Sir - One of your correspondents (Letters, May 9) suggests that Spring Residential should build a concert hall as well as a few flats on the Jericho canalside site. Unfortunately the site is narrow and not large enough for a concert hall. Many of
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Curtain set to fall on Garsington
The curtain is not yet ready to drop, but it would seem the final act is already under way for Garsington Opera. After more than 20 years of spellbinding singing in its majestic setting, with planning battles and villagers' protests occasionally adding
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Concrete ramparts
Sir - It was heartening to read David Widdowson's suggestion that a purpose-built concert hall and arts centre be built on the Jericho boatyard site, instead of Spring Residential's scheme for two blocks of flats containing 54 one and two-bedroom apartments
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Orchard planned
Sir - The article in the Country Matters pages last week (May 9) about Oxford Urban Wildlife Group's 20th anniversary also included a section about a proposed wildlife survey of Cripley Island. The wording used implied that the island might be cleared
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Climate talk
A TALK about climate change will be held in Bicester today. Bob Spicer, Professor of Earth Sciences at the Open University, has been invited by The North Oxfordshire Conservative Association. The event, which is at the Littlebury Hotel, in King's
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Cadillac unleashes eight-seater 4x4
FOR car buyers for whom money is no object Cadillac is launching an off-roader in the UK with seating for up to eight occupants. The left-hand-drive Escalade is powered by a mighty 409 horsepower, 6.2-litre, V8 petrol engine with a six-speed automatic
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Unfair system
Sir - Having, like many other pensioners, voted in the city council election on May 1, I was keen to know the results especially in my own ward where the contest was close, we were told. I therefore turned on BBC Radio Oxford at 6.20am on Friday,
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Territorial exhibition
Sir - Your report on the ceremony to mark the centenary of the Territorial Army (May 2) very rightly concentrated on the young men and women serving today. Sgt Deborah Frances put their service in context. It was also good to recognise the achievements
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Real deal
Peugeot's sleek and slick 308 RC Z concept coupé is going into full production, prompted by healthy public reaction to motor show models. The final production model, and its name, will be unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany. It will
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Seeing red
A Bordeaux Red fabric roof helps raise the profile of Vauxhall's latest convertible, the Tigra Sport Rouge. It replaces the Sport model, and gets a fair amount of standard equipment, with prices ranging from £15,705 to £17,195. The Sport Rouge has
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SRX crosses over in style
Cadillac's first luxury crossover, the US-built SRX, has just arrived in the UK, offering luxury and tremendous off-road performance combined with the ability to carry up to seven people. Three right-hand models are on sale here, with either a 3.6
