Archive
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Shop volunteers mark 15 years of dedication
FIFTEEN years after Iffley’s village shop announced plans to close, its successor is still going strong thanks to the commitment of a dedicated band of volunteers. In the summer of 1999, plans were under way for local people to take over the running
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Estate backs plan to develop ex-hostel site
THE plan to demolish a delapidated hostel and build housing has been welcomed. Marywood Hostel in Wood Farm has been repeatedly vandalised after lying empty for about 15 years. But now a housing association has put forward a planning application
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Small traders fear for their business futures
INDEPENDENT traders in Headington say they fear new supermarkets could put them out of business. Traders in London Road spoke out after it was revealed the Shell garage forecourt shop would become a Little Waitrose. Shoppers can already chose
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Oxford City 0 Oxford Utd 1
A TYRONE Marsh penalty ensured Oxford United saw off Oxford City to make it two wins out of two outings in pre-season. The striker came off the bench to win and then convert the 69th-minute spot kick. It decided a keenly-fought derby where
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Making moves for brain trust
YOUNG dancers at Abingdon Dance Studio produced their best moves to raise money for the Child Brain Injury Trust in a three-hour danceathon on Sunday. Claire Logan Claire Logan, 38, organised the event to give something back to the charity
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Thousands flock to soak up carnival spirit
WITNEY was filled with the carnival spirit once again as the crowds enjoyed the town’s annual parade and entertainment. The Witney Carnival on Saturday is thought to have attracted more than 9,000 people, with organisers hoping to have matched
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Potters prove a real star turn at the Ashmolean
AMERICAN potter Jeff Shapiro teamed up with British clay artist Lisa Hammond as visitors to the Ashmolean enjoyed a clay day. The potters spoke about their experiences working around the world, gave a slideshow presentation and then demonstrated
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Cakes provide a treat
MUM Shan Saunders manned a cake stall at West Oxford Fun Day in Botley Park on Saturday in aid of West Oxford Community Primary School. The West Oxford lawyer, pictured, whose daughter Florence, 10, is at the school and son Isaac, 14 also attended
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Pupils show they’re master bakers
PUPILS at Wood Farm Primary School got very messy decorating these fairy cakes for the Wood Farm Festival. More than 40 year three pupils spent Friday morning icing the cupcakes which were sold at the afternoon fete to raise funds for the school
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Gripped by murder mystery tale
AGATHA Christie novels inspired a weekend murder mystery in an Oxfordshire market town. Actors dressed as characters from her stories greeted visitors at locations in Chipping Norton before they were tasked with working out “whodunnit”. The
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Town in the swing with a 1940s street party
ACAPELLA artists sang wartime songs as a community tried to bring trade to a quiet part of town. Banbury’s Old Town Association took the town back to the 1940s in style with the help of big band and swing music. The event was organised in partnership
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Clunk deliver some festival funk
BRASS musicians entertained youngsters to bring the city’s summer dance festival to an end. Clunk, a trio who play music for two to five-year-olds, played two free of charge gigs at the Oxford Castle gardens on Sunday. The performances marked
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Jayden trial: Jury told not to let sympathy play a part in its decision
THE jury in the murder trial of Ben Blakeley has been warned not to let sympathy for Jayden Parkinson play a part in its decision. Summing up the evidence in the case this afternoon in Oxford Crown Court Judge Patrick Eccles told the men and women
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Teenagers invited to join new sports club
A TWICE-weekly sports club has been started in Jericho for teenagers. Funding of £4,050 was secured for the scheme, which started on Thursday and will run until the Autumn, by the Jericho Community Association. Organiser and project leader
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Road closed after collision between motorbike and lorry
A MAN who came off his motorcycle after being involved in a collision with a lorry was rescued from a ditch by the A4130, near Didcot, by fire fighters. A spokesman for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews had been on their way to another
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Recalling brave young men who went to war
IN the early hours of November 11, 1918, German diplomats signed the armistice document which would bring an end to the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage deep in the forest of Compiegne at 5am, though it only came into effect
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Watch: Protest to cause disruption in Oxford + Video
A PROTEST by the Oxford Palestine Solidarity Campaign is expected to block a road in Summertown this evening. The group will be holding a non-violent protest outside BBC Oxford in Banbury Road at 6.30pm and is expected to last for up to two hours
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CCTV: Police appeal to find this woman after security guards assaulted
POLICE are appealing for information about this woman after two security guards were assaulted at an Asda in Cowley. A police spokesman said the two security officers at Asda in Between Towns Road had tried to stop a woman they suspected of shoplifting
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Oxford United sign Michael Collins
MIDFIELDER Michael Collins has become Michael Appleton's first signing for Oxford United. The 28-year-old is a former under 21 Republic of Ireland international and former captain of Scunthorpe United and was part of their promotion-winning side
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Oxford United game selected for television
OXFORD United's trip to Cambridge United has been moved to a lunchtime kick-off after being selected for television. Sky are screening the Sky Bet League Two game live on October 11, so it will begin at 12.15pm rather than 3pm. It is United's
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Wantage MP Ed Vaizey given new title in government reshuffle
Wantage MP Ed Vaizey has been given a new position in the Government reshuffle. Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron has tweeted an announcement regarding Mr Vaizey's new post. Previously Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative
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Tuesday's letters: What are your fellow readers writing in about today?
Want to give your opinion? Email letters@oxfordmail.co.uk
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Torrential rain, hail and strong winds forecast for Saturday
A YELLOW weather warning has been issued for Oxfordshire this Saturday due to the risk of heavy, thundery showers across south east England. The Met Office said they cannot be sure exactly where these showers will form but there is a risk of torrential
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ATHLETICS: England and Clarke selected for European Championships
OXFORDSHIRE’S Hannah England and Lawrence Clarke have today been named in the Great Britain & Northern Ireland team for next month’s European Championships in Zurich. But fellow county athlete Nathan Douglas (Oxford City) misses out after failing
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Blakeley lied about Jayden because 'no one would believe him', court told
BEN Blakeley lied to the police about his ex-girlfriend's whereabouts because he feared no one would believe him, a jury has heard. This morning the 22-year-old's defence barrister Richard Benson QC finished delivering his closing speech to the
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Fun day marks new animal sanctuary site
A FAMILY-run animal sanctuary has opened after being in the pipeline since last April. Didcot Animal Sanctuary is using a three-acre site at Hill Farm, in Appleford, which the landowner has let it use for free. Lucy Clifton, 20, runs the site
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Young Charlotte’s swashbuckling Disney film debut
A YOUNG girl had all her dreams come true after spending a magical day on the set of a new Disney music video. Four-year-old Charlotte Wilks, from Watlington, won a competition to star in Natasha Bedingfield’s music video for Disney’s Tinkerbell
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Watchdog rules council data refusal was wrong
A COUNCIL was wrong to refuse information to a resident about alleged bullying at a city college, the national information watchdog has ruled. The Information Commissioner (ICO) said Oxfordshire County Council should not have denied Mike White’
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Village facing hike to parish council tax bill
VILLAGERS could be hit by a 21 per cent hike in their council tax precept if a parish council does not find up to £70,000 for urgent repair work of a car park. Leafield Parish Council says the village hall car park is in an extremely bad condition
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It’s nuke one, purl one
CAMPAIGNERS knitted a 230-metre-long scarf to show solidarity against Britain’s nuclear weapons programme. Activists from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Oxford’s Lush store joined with Wool Against Weapons to knit the garment, which stretched
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RUGBY UNION: May and Corker to continue as London Welsh captains
LONDON Welsh have today confirmed Tom May and Matt Corker will continue as team and club captain in 2014-15. May was appointed team skipper on joining the Exiles last summer and is relishing leading the Oxford-based side on their return to the
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Watching the Tour de France pros a real treat
Summer is in full motion and each year it seems to bring more and more sporting events for both amateur and professional athletes to take part in. There are so many to choose from that it’s enough to make a healthy sportsperson keel over from exhaustion
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This terrible practice has no place in society
Around 170,000 cases of genital mutilation or female circumcision are predicted in the UK. As an Imam and Islamic scholar, I believe this is a terrible practice and has no place under lslamic law or jurisprudence. It appears to be a tradition in
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nPower could raise valuable charity cash
I am writing concerning the publicity over RWE nPower’s decision to blow up the Didcot Power Station cooling towers in the dark, thus depriving the community at large an opportunity to view this long-awaited spectacle. I have a suggestion which
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Fines would help pay for many speed cameras
VERY often on St Giles, in Oxford, at least seven fully uniformed traffic police are visible, filming drivers as they break the 20mph speed limit. A couple of traffic wardens or speed cameras could do the same job for less cost. Go to the opposite
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Concerned that majority of cuts falling on families with children
IN her letter of July 7, Professor Dowler astutely sums up the impact of unfair measures put in place by the Government since 2010. I would add, however, that four out of five of the richest people in the UK are now better-off under current austerity
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Community centre work delayed for second time
PLANS for a new community centre in Rose Hill have been delayed for a second time after the tenders for the project came in “substantially over budget.” Work was due to start this month after revised designs for the centre were announced in February
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Students’ close encounters of the public architectural kind
ARCHITECTURE students designing and building with local communities benefits both town and gown says Jane Anderson, Programme Lead for Undergraduate Architecture at Oxford Brookes University. It is more important than ever for students of architecture
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Record keeping failing under these pressures
OUR wonderful Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre appears to have fallen under Government pressure to ease the long wait for appointments. I had an appointment at the NOC for carpel tunnel problems on July 3 at 4.10pm. I had phoned the day before to check
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This should not happen if you have a guide dog
I am writing because I am indignant that, in this day and age, and having owned a guide dog for 15 years I was refused entry into a local restaurant in my home town of Wallingford. I arrived at 12.30pm with a friend and we were refused entry because
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A black day for Black’s Head
Well, for the Black’s Head (Bletchingdon) the bubble has finally burst. Having won all of their five previous fixtures in the summer campaign, their successful run was brought to a shuddering halt last Thursday night when they entertained the Ploughman
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County needs 200 more defibrillators says medic
A SENIOR ambulance service manager is calling for an extra 200 defibrillators to help save lives across Oxfordshire. And South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) divisional responder manager Dick Tracey has vowed to continue campaigning until the
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COMMENT: Oxford could get a place in history
THE Church has finally voted for women bishops. The news should be greeted by cheers, but the question is more why did it take so long? As with gay marriages, it seems to have taken an eternity for the Church to catch up with society. But at
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COMMENT: Applying for council funds will help save lives of many
DICK Tracey’s determination to see more defibrillators across the county should motivate us all. He will not relent until no-one is more than 10 minutes from one of these devices, and nor should the rest of us. In the race against time in an
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Get ready for the Wright stuff
Jake Wright is hoping a full recovery from the injuries which blighted his performances in the spring will see him return to top form when the new season begins. Oxford United’s captain, normally so reliable, made a series of uncharacteristic errors
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Panini pair look forward as tournament draws to close
WITH just minutes to go in a gripping World Cup final between Germany and Argentina, Sian Pratchett found a crucial gap and filled it – with a felt-tip drawing of Spain’s Pedro. It just so happened the Barcelona winger was the last player to be
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Poorer students’ bridge to learning
A GROUP of cyclists will travel from one Bridge of Sighs to another as they celebrate the centenary of the Oxford landmark by raising money to support students from poor backgrounds. Seventy cyclists will leave Hertford College at 7.30am on Saturday
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Car alight on M40
Traffic was delayed on the M40 southbound yesterday morning after a car caught fire, closing one lane between junction 7 for Watlington and junction 6, the Thame turn off. The fire service attended the blaze – reported to The Highways Agency at 10.30am
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Major delays on trains
Commuters faced major delays yesterday on trains between Oxford and London Paddington because of a signalling problem. First Great Western services were disrupted because of problems on the line between Reading and Slough. Lines were opened
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Police probe reports of machete attacker
A man was taken to hospital in the early hours of yesterday after being reportedly attacked with a machete in Chipping Norton. A resident said the 24-year-old was injured with the weapon but Thames Valley Police said they couldn’t confirm what
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CRICKET: Ryan relishing shot at silverware with Oxfordshire
OXFORDSHIRE captain Luke Ryan says there is every reason to be confident as they look ahead to the Unicorns Counties Trophy final. Ryan’s men set up a showdown with Devon at Wormsley on Wednesday, August 27 after beating Wiltshire by 105 runs at
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Arson murder accused ‘told lies to mask blaze truth’
JURORS were told outrageous lies about the family of two murdered children in a bid to create “dust clouds” around the true story, a prosecutor has said. Fiaz Munshi denies plotting to kill Anum, eight, and Majid, 15, in a revenge arson attack
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Teenager who aided burial is named as killer’s brother
THE 17-year-old who played a part Jayden Parkinson’s burial can now be named as Jake Blakeley, the younger brother of her killer Ben. Yesterday, a judge at Oxford Crown Court lifted a Section 39 order of the Young Person’s Act banning publication
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RUGBY UNION: Tongan ace Aholelei is humbled to join Welsh
Tongan international prop Eddie Aholelei said he was honoured and humbled to have signed for London Welsh. Aholelei, who joins from Super 15 side Melbourne Rebels, was yesterday announced as Oxford-based Welsh’s 22nd signing ahead of their return
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Female clergy joy over ‘yes’ bishops’ vote
MEMBERS of Oxfordshire’s female clergy last night welcomed the vote on allowing women bishops. The Church of England’s ruling General Synod voted on the issue 18 months after a previous attempt was blocked. And the Diocese of Oxford’s spokeswoman
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Neave portrayal anger
Town council leader Sandy Lovatt has criticised a Channel 4 drama for suggesting that the town’s former MP was killed by the security services. Utopia, screened last night, suggested that Airey Neave’s murder was carried out by a secret MI5 cell
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Northern Gateway opens new ‘green’ planning era
FUTURE developments in Oxford could be turned down if they do not include enough green measures, the leader of the city council has said. Councillor Bob Price made the comments following the publication of the first plan of the Northern Gateway
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GOLF: Watkins makes it ten in a row
LAURA Watkins continued her domination of the Bicester ladies’ championship by claiming her tenth title in a row. Still only 23, her 156 total was 27 shots clear of nearest challenger Carly Bosher in the gross competition. Lorna Goodwin won
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RUGBY LEAGUE: Knights batter depleted Oxford on Henley debut
KINGSTONE PRESS CHAMPIONSHIP ONE OXFORD RL’s first match at Henley ended in a 58-16 defeat to leaders York City Knights. The game was switched to Dry Leas with Oxford’s regular Iffley Road base out of action for renovations. And although
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Teaching post-16s
A school is to be able to take in pupils past the age of 16 from September. It is the first time in its 40-year history that Carterton Community College will be able to teach children post-16. Yesterday, county council education cabinet member
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County’s firefighters respond to strike call
Oxfordshire’s firefighters staged a pair of two-hour strikes yesterday. Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) walked out between 6am and 8am over plans to change pensions and the retirement age of firefighters, as well as from 5pm to 7pm.
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Kit carts made from tubes get kids racing out on track
MADE by kids, for kids, these “goblin cars” have proved a roaring success. Children at The Hendreds Primary School built the kit carts from a box full of metal tubes they ordered through the post. On Sunday they got to race their creations
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Sir Roger signs books
Running legend Sir Roger Bannister was in the town on Saturday signing copies of his new book. The 85-year-old – who broke the four – minute mile barrier at Oxford’s Iffley Road track 60 years ago – was at Cole’s Books in Crown Walk between 3pm
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County gearing up to host key stage in Tour of Britain
NOW Britain has said au revoir to the Tour de France, Oxfordshire fans are looking ahead to top cyclists racing through the county later this year. The Tour of Britain – the UK’s biggest cycling race – is to come through the county in September
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DARTS: Villagers rip up the form book
EAST Oxford Conservative Club’s unbeaten record in Greene King ODDA Summer League Section 3 came to an end as they crashed to a 5-4 defeat at Village Inn. The hosts looked up against it after going 3-0 down, but Colin Royall, Darren Andrews and
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Tuesday, July 15
7:46pm The jury in the Blakeley case is told not to let sympathy play a part in its decision 7:05pm Road closed after collision between motorbike and
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GOLF: Tadmarton Heath to run junior courses in summer holidays
TADMARTON Heath are running junior coaching courses for a range of abilities during the school holidays. The first three-day sessions are for experienced golfers with a handicap of under 18, from July 28-30. Beginners aged 5-10 can get their
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MOTORSPORT: Dew's delight at second spot
ALEX Dew raced to an impressive fifth podium of the season as he finished second in the BMW Compact Cup at Rockingham Speedway. After qualifying third fastest, the driver from Bampton, near Witney, gained a place off the line. He set the fastest
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RUGBY LEAGUE: Cavaliers fall away after Outlaws raid
CONFERENCE LEAGUE SOUTH OXFORD Cavaliers slipped to a 58-16 home defeat against Nottingham Outlaws, despite having led 16-6. Cavaliers’ third straight loss saw them fall four points behind Nottingham and Valley Cougars, while leaders Sheffield
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Update: A361 in Shipton-under-Wychwood reopens after milk lorry overturns
THE A361 at Shipton-under-Wychwood is open again after a lorry overturned spilling 10 tonnes of milk. It overturned at about 4.30am. The lorry has now been cleared and the road is back open. Traffic updates will be posted automatically
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MP may be promoted
Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood is reportedly tipped for a promotion in today’s Government ministerial reshuffle. According to The Sunday Times and the Daily Mail, as well as political blog Conservative Home, Ms Blackwood could be
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Misgivings over assisted dying
OXFORD East MP Andrew Smith yesterday raised concerns about legalising assisted dying after two senior clergymen signalled their support. The Labour MP said there needs to be a “national discussion of the wider implications” with a look at countries
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Outbuilding destroyed
Three fire crews were needed to put out a blaze in Marston on Sunday after an outbuilding caught fire. An outbuilding, shed and tree were all destroyed by the fire on Farmer Place, which fire officals say was an accident. Crews were called
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Four drivers escape injury after collision
Three cars and a van were involved in a collision on the A420 in Littleworth yesterday. The accident happened at 8.30am, with a red Mini Cooper, a silver Vauxhall Astra and a black Toyota Aygo involved. Police say a white Ford Transit van was also
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Ready, teddy, go at centre fundraiser
A SECOND World War flypast marked the high point for a teddy bears picnic held to raise money for good causes. The Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight swooped low over Didcot Railway Centre on Sunday for a
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Walk-through video gives a hi-tech view of centre plans
AN ANIMATED video has been made to show how a £100m redevelopment would change Botley. The six-minute video shows the current West Way shopping centre site and how it would look under the scheme from Doric Properties. The developer wants to
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GOLF: Club results
FRILFORD HEATH Spoon Medal (Green Course): 1 P James (4) 65, 2 S Stanhope (2) 66, 3 P McIntosh (18) 67. Thursday Stableford (Green Course): 1 T Pritchard (11) 38pts, 2 C Bough (17) 36 (cb), 3 J Taylor (9) 36. Sunday Stableford (Green Course
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MPs support bill to protect private tenants
OXFORD’S two MPs have agreed to co-sponsor a bill that would put a stop to ‘retaliation’ evictions. Landlords can issue a no-fault section 21 eviction notice after they have been ordered to make improvements to their property by a council. But
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First-hand help for parents who have a disabled child
WHEN your child is diagnosed with a disability, it can be difficult to know where to turn. Organised by Scope and funded by the Health Lottery, Face2Face is a new befriending service for mums and dads who have disabled children is being launched
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U’s star brings joy to young supporter
THIS football fan got more than she bargained for at a charity tournament. Shannon Eggleton-Hart went to the Play2Give football afternoon on Sunday to watch her cousin Ethan Eggleton-Gibbs take part, but ended up with a signed shirt and photo with
