Archive
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Woman invents 'kinder' alternative to Elf on the Shelf ritual
An Oxfordshire woman has invented a 'kinder alternative' to a popular pre-Christmas family ritual. Clare Anderson, a Chipping Norton beauty entrepreneur and author, says her new Buddy's Hide and Sleep game is a new game to rival the Elf on the
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Insect close-up crowned winner of photography competition
A shot of an insect face has been crowned the winner of a wildlife photography contest. The extreme close-up of a white-legged damselfly by Harry Berks, 24, from Sibford Gower near Banbury, won first prize in the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire
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Oxfordshire MP speaks out after scrapped plans for rail ticket office closures
Victoria Prentis has released a statement after the planned widespread closure of railway station ticket offices in England has been scrapped. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the Government has asked train operators to withdraw their proposals
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Major food poverty charity commends local volunteers for service
Volunteers from Wallingford, Didcot and other areas around the Thames Valley working to eradicate food poverty have been commended by FareShare at an annual awards event. The event, which took place on Thursday, October 19, celebrated those who
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Fireworks set to return to Bicester with discounted tickets available now
A bedazzling fireworks display will once again take place in Bicester with discounted tickets available. Bicester Round Table, a charity founded over 50 years ago to help like-minded people come together in the town, is hosting its annual fireworks
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Cyclist in crash confirmed as campaign group chairwoman
The chairwoman of a cycling campaign group has been confirmed as the cyclist involved in a serious crash with a coach last week. Alison Hill, chairwoman of the Cyclox group - 'the voice of cycling in Oxford' - was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital
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Striking kidnap posters spotted near iconic Oxford building
Missing posters pleading for the safe return of Israeli citizens have begun appearing on the railings enclosing the Radcliffe Camera today. Listing names, pictures and ages of the missing, each poster states that the individuals were abducted from
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Traffic filters on the agenda for city business leaders
Business leaders are meeting to discuss how best to oppose six new traffic filters in Oxford. Oxfordshire County Council is planning to introduce the six new bus gates around the city as a way of reducing congestion, in addition to the one in High
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Claims that system is 'rigged' as two in five disabled people out of work
Claims that the labour market is "rigged" have followed the findings that two in five disabled people of working age in Oxfordshire are not in employment. Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions suggest there were around 78,000 disabled
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Community wardens mark one year of service
The three newest members of Cherwell District Council’s community safety team are celebrating their one year anniversary of serving as community wardens. Yvonne Jaggs, Trudie Rose and Helen Inskip carry out high visibility patrols throughout the
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Couple set up charity QR fundraising scan amid their Halloween displays
A couple in Bicester are using the opportunity of Halloween to help raise money for a charity which has helped one of their close friends. Jonathan and Andrea Calix have decorated the front of their home in Elmsbrook with pumpkins, skeletons and
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Dorchester Abbey hosting Last Supper sculpture for six months
A sculpture made up of 50,000 keyboard keys depicting one of Da Vinci’s most recognisable paintings has gone on display at Dorchester Abbey. The Last Supper sculpture took five years to create and will be available to see during daylight hours
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Application to get your child's preferred school place
The primary school application process has opened across Oxfordshire. Parents and carers can now apply for their children to attend a primary school for September 2024 online via the county council’s website. The deadline is January 15, 2024
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What is the Whoniverse? More than 800 Doctor Who episodes launch on BBC iPlayer
From today (November 1), more than 800 episodes of Doctor Who will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer. Fans of the BBC series can watch all their favourite episodes in one place – The Whoniverse. They will also be able to watch the first
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What to do with your pumpkins once Halloween is over
Pumpkins are a very common sight in people's windows and homes during the Halloween season, with millions being picked for carving. Once the spooky designs are cut and Halloween is over though the question might remain on what to do with it.
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Images released following city centre stabbing
Images have been released in the aftermath of a city centre stabbing earlier this year. A man was stabbed to his upper arm and back on Pembroke Street in Oxford just after 4am on Sunday, August 27. The 27-year-old was taken to hospital with
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Police chase after 'drug driver' fails to stop
A motorist has been arrested on suspicion of drug driving and not possessing a licence, Thames Valley Police has said. The driver was flagged by police in the village of Ardley, near Bicester, but failed to immediately stop. Thames Valley Police
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Behind the scenes change sees new majority shareholder at Oxford City
OXFORD City have a new majority shareholder in the form of the club’s director of football Justin Merritt. Paul Lyon has relinquished most of his shares of the club, leaving Merritt as the new Hoops majority shareholder. In a statement, the
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Oxfordshire bus services are restored following funding boost
Bus services are being restored to many Oxfordshire communities who have been without regular public transport since 2016. Following Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet’s decision to allocate £1.2m to improve rural public and community transport
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Heartbreaking family tributes to teenager who died after hospital neglect
Heartbreaking tributes have been paid to a teenager who died after being neglected by staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital after his spinal surgery. The sudden death of Zak Fairhurst, 18, came last February after being moved to an adult ward following
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'Where does the money come from?': MP slammed over Russia-linked backer donations
An Oxfordshire MP has been asked to explain donations from the wife of a former Russian finance minister following his appointment to a senior defence position in Government. Robert Courts, Conservative MP for Witney and West Oxfordshire, was elected
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Bathing water status bids submitted for two county hotspots
An environmental charity has submitted two applications to the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in a bid to obtain bathing water designations for Wallingford Beach and Mill Meadows in Henley. Thames21 has submitted the
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Our player ratings after Oxford United coast to win at Lincoln City
THE Oxford Mail player ratings after Oxford United won 2-0 at Lincoln City in Sky Bet League One. JAMES BEADLE Made a couple of good stops and claims from balls into the box. Had his blushes spared when Stan Mills cleared the ball from under
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Motorcyclist taken to hospital after hit-and-run crash
A motorcyclist has been taken to hospital after being hit by a car that did not stop after the crash on a major road in Oxford. Police have launched an investigation into the failure to stop on Iffley Road after the collision yesterday (Tuesday
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Weather warnings issued as Storm Ciaran approaches Oxfordshire
New yellow weather warnings for rain have been issued for Oxfordshire ahead of Storm Ciaran moving in on Wednesday night. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning with a heavy rain forecast likely to cause disruption to travel and flooding
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Teenage boy missing for over a week as police concerns grown
A teenage boy has been missing from Oxford for over a week as police concerns grow over his whereabouts. Majed, aged 17, was last seen nine days ago on Monday, October 23 in Oxford. He is described by police as being around 5ft 10in, of medium
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Is HSBC down? Users report problems with app and online banking
Thousands of account holders with major high street bank HSBC have reported issues with the app and online banking. Downdetector, at its peak, recorded more than 4000 reports of issues with HSBC on Friday (November 24) morning. Around 64%
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WATCH: M&S unveils new Christmas advert with all-star cast ahead of festivities
With less than two months to go before Christmas, popular store chain Marks and Spencer has unveiled its brand new festive advert ahead of the holiday season. Its Christmas Clothing & Home campaign for 2023 is titled 'Love Thismas, Not Thatmas'
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November Premium Bond winners have been announced - have you won £1 million?
If you own Premium Bonds or are just curious to see who won the top £1 million prize, look no further. National Savings and Investment (NS&I) has announced the 2023 November winners. Only two lucky winners get to claim the top million-pound
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Do you have to go to work during Storm Ciarán? Workers rights explained
Storm Ciarán is expected to bring strong winds, heavy rain and flooding across southern England and Wales, the Met Office has warned. The extreme weather conditions will impact public transport, which will be disrupted, leaving many to wonder what
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Asda cuts food prices for Christmas meaning full roast will cost £4.17 per head
As Christmas approaches British households are looking for ways to start spreading the cost. The cost of living crisis has hit everyone financially over the past couple of years and has forced a lot of people into giving up luxuries, especially
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UK health officials urge millions of Brits to get 'serious' flu and Covid jab
We have now entered the cold autumn months and things are only going to get chillier in the lead-up to Christmas. This has since prompted fears among health officials that millions of Brits are yet to have their flu of Covid jab. So far 11.7
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Storm Ciaran tracker shows the exact time heavy rain and wind will hit UK
Another storm is set to hit the UK in the coming days as Storm Ciaran is expected to bring heavy rain and wind to parts of the UK. The Met Office has already issued several yellow weather warnings for parts of southern England, Wales and areas
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This is the dirtiest place in your bathroom (no, not there)
The dirtiest place in your bathroom has been revealed and it's not what many people would expect it to be. You'll be forgiven for thinking that the toilet is the dirtiest spot in your bathroom ( for obvious reasons) but it's apparently not the
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Complaints against GP and dental practices soar
The number of complaints against GP and dental practices in Oxfordshire, soared following the Covid pandemic, new figures show. It follows a trend across England, where written complaints made against primary care providers have risen by 35 per
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'No arrests' following crash at major city roundabout
10:14pm Thank you for following this live blog. 3:39pm
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Hundreds of firefighters and control staff will protest today - here's why
A protest will be staged by hundreds of firefighters and control staff today (November 1) amid warnings of the impact of spending cuts on jobs and response times. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) published a manifesto which calls for an “immediate
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Heritage site hosts bouncy obstacle course for second time this year
The UK’s largest bouncy obstacle course returned for a second time to a former WW2 RAF bomber base. Tuff Nutterz, a 300m inflatable maze, came back to Bicester Heritage this October Half Term with kids and adults alike enjoying the challenges.
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'Triumph of humans over machines': Plans to close station ticket office scrapped
Plans to close Didcot Parkway’s ticket office have been scrapped in what has been called a “triumph of humans against the machines.” Great Western Railway had launched a consultation on plans to move staff from behind ticket office windows to help
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New mental health hub opened by councillors in Abingdon
(L to R) Abingdon town councillor Tom Greenaway, district councillor Helen Pighills, Abingdon's town crier, and county councillor and cabinet member for public health, inequalities and community safety, Nathan Ley, opening the new Keystone Mental Health
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'It’s a decision that’s been made for us': Couple bid farewell to farm shop
A couple will bid farewell to their beloved farm shop of 34 years as they blamed the pandemic, health issues and the loss of staff for the closure. Andy and Jane Bowler said it was with “a heavy heart” that they will open Dews Meadow Farm Shop
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Town leisure centre's gym equipment to get upgrade
Didcot Wave Leisure Centre is set to benefit from £133,129 towards new gym equipment. The centre, located in Newlands Avenue, will receive both state of the art equipment and self-powered items that are designed to reduce the centre’s energy consumption
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Oxford Chargers end 18-year wait for speedway silverware
OXFORD Speedway ’s 18-year wait for silverware has ended after Oxford Chargers were crowned National League champions. The much-delayed fixture – due to poor weather – adopted a winner takes all format against Leicester Lion Cubs. Cubs’ heat
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Goal set out for another university in Oxford within 10 years
The new chief of an independent Oxford college has set out his strategic vision to turn it into a university within a decade. Professor Fawad Inam will take on his position as executive principal at the Oxford Business College in George Street
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Former chef hits back after criticism for low food hygiene
A chef has hit back at his former employers after criticism was thrown his way following a low food hygiene rating just weeks after joining. The Cotswold Fire and Grill on London Street in Faringdon was handed a one-out-of-five rating by the Food
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Near death 'accident' sparks outrage against condition of county's roads
A Wantage man is calling on the county council to improve the state of its roads after poor road conditions caused him to suffer what he has described as a 'near fatal' accident. The incident happened earlier this month when John Brown was travelling
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Activity Future scheme set to launch at town leisure centre
A national activity company promoting healthy lifestyles is expanding to Oxfordshire, kickstarting in Didcot this weekend. Active Future, who strive to instil a love of movement, will mark the start of their operations in the county with an introductory
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Households claim they get post delivered once a FORTNIGHT
Households say they get mail as infrequently as once a FORTNIGHT and are then hit with a sudden deluge of late cards and missing post. Hospital appointment letters, birthday cards, parcels and important bills have all gone missing in delays caused
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Frustrated householders consider moving over parking trouble
Frustrated householders in Abingdon say they are considering moving after shelling out money for parking each month despite having a permit. Primary school teacher Sarah Smith and her husband Stephen paid £120 for a yearly parking permit which
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Calls for views on expansion of 20mph limits for Oxfordshire town
Oxfordshire County Council is seeking public response to its plans to expand 20mph speed limits throughout Wallingford. The council proposed this expansion following the advancement of road safety concerns within the parish and in a further push
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Plans to turn Labour Club into church and 10-bed HMO
The site of a former Oxfordshire Labour Club could soon be transformed into a 10-bed HMO and church under new proposals. A planning application to Cherwell District Council seeks to turn the Trades and Labour Club at West Bar Street in Banbury
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Motion to rip out Oxford's LTNs to be discussed next week
Oxfordshire’s shadow highways chief has proposed a motion to remove the Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in East Oxford and Cowley. Liam Walker’s motion to rip out the controversial traffic calming measures will be discussed at Oxfordshire County
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How men can maintain good health despite reaching age milestones
Many men find the age of 50 to be a turning point for their well-being, as it becomes more and more difficult to get away with bad habits like you did when you were younger. During this age, most male individuals struggle to prioritise their health
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Plea to reopen historic city centre pub 'as soon as possible'
Former Inklings tour guide Peter Berry welcomes the purchase of the Eagle and Child pub by an American technology institute and says he would like to see the pub reopened as soon as possible. This is his letter sent to the Oxford Mail. I read with
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Oxford launches trial to improve Covid and flu vaccines
Oxford University has launched a pioneering study which aims to significantly improve Covid and flu vaccine design for different age groups. The Oxford Vaccine Group kickstarted the study last week, called LEGACY03, which is funded by the Medical
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Liam Manning delighted with ‘professional away performance’
LIAM Manning was delighted by a professional performance on the road as Oxford United ended a three-game run without a win. The U’s drew at home to Blackpool and Wycombe Wanderers, with a defeat at Wigan Athletic sandwiched in between, however
