Archive
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EE to roll out standalone 5G network in another 16 locations - see the full list
EE is set to roll out new standalone 5G networks in another 16 locations across the UK by the end of 2024. The mobile operator launched the upgraded 5G network in September in the four UK capitals and a number of other metropolitan areas. Standalone
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Strictly pro Lauren Oakley steps in for Amy Dowden after falling ill during show
Strictly Come Dancing professional Lauren Oakley has stepped in to replace Amy Dowden for training after she fell ill during the most recent episode of the BBC dancing show. Oakley will rehearse with JLS singer JB Gill on Monday (October 28). JB
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Mark Labbett from The Chase supported by fellow chaser after 'breakdown' on set
Mark Labbett from the popular ITV gameshow The Chase was sent love and support by fellow chaser Paul Sinha after suffering a "breakdown" on set. Widely known as The Beast, Mark frequently appears alongside other quiz champions like Anne Hegerty
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Frightfully good Halloween event features Roald Dahl tales
The Witch’s House is back at Cogges Manor Farm and this year is inspired by Roald Dahl’s strange stories. Spooktacular sights and sounds, gloriumptious treats, disgusterous trails and trickery make for a frightfully good Halloween with fancy dress
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Calls for council to adopt full plant-based catering policy
Calls have been made for South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) to follow the county and city council and adopt a plant-based catering policy. A group of residents living in the district submitted a petition with more than 50 signatures at
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Oxford's hospitality industry joins in national mental health event
Oxford's hospitality industry has joined more than 1,000 people across the country by taking part in a charity event which raised £135,000. Walk for Wellbeing, now in its fifth year, was launched on World Mental Health Day, October 10, and aims
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A Rambunctious Riverside Walk in Wallingford
Many people enjoy taking a mellow meander down the Thames Path in Wallingford due to its serene, scenic aura. This illustrious path, well-known for its close proximity to the now decrepit Wallingford Norman castle, proved to be a perfect
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Behind the Scenes of BKRY
BKRY is a newly opened business on Caversham highstreet, a pink-interiored, cosy space. Jo Deacon is at the heart of this business, in the bustling bakery upstairs where the whirring of machines and hum of voices can be heard, churning out delicious
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Virgin Media customers to lose 11 TV channels this week - see those affected
Some Virgin Media customers are set to lose access to 11 TV channels this week including the likes of Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Sky Kids. At the start of October, as a way to help parents keep the kids entertained during the half term, Virgin
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Viral piano-bike busker welcomed in multiple towns for October tour
A young busker with a piano on a three-wheeled bike has visited multiple Oxfordshire locations in an attempt to perform in every single town in the UK. Chloe Marie Aston, a 20-year-old full-time busker from Ilfracombe, North Devon, has been travelling
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Air ambulance gives statement on bus incident near Westgate
The air ambulance service has provided a statement following a serious bus incident near the Westgate Centre in Oxford over the weekend. Thames Valley Police and South Central Ambulance Service were called to an incident on board a bus just after
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Police renew appeal for information one year on from Oxfordshire rape
A police hunt is being stepped up one year on from the rape of a woman in her 30s in a village as officers turn to the public with a fresh appeal. The victim was raped by a man in in Minster Lovell, near Witney, against the ruined walls of the
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Wildlife group issues urgent plea to save vulnerable hedgehogs
An Oxfordshire wildlife charity has issued an appeal for those enjoying bonfires this November to take steps to protect hedgehogs hiding in wood piles. Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has issued guidelines on looking out for
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Russell Brand accused of being 'above the law' over contentious pub plans
Russell Brand's controversial fresh plans to convert an Oxfordshire country pub into a recording studio have been withdrawn following a peaceful protest by villagers. The 49-year-old purchased an 800-year-old pub The Crown in the village of Pishill
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First phase of student village redevelopment completed
Construction has been completed on the first phase of the redevelopment of a student village in Oxford. Students were able to move into 342 en-suite rooms at Oxford Brookes University's Clive Booth Student Village in time for the new academic year
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Oxfordshire MP slams Thames Water in Westminster debate
As the Government launches its independent review of the water sector, Didcot and Wantage MP Olly Glover has declared it is a “time for change” in a parliamentary debate. The Westminster session, opened by Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron, addressed
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BRAVOS awards for valued and outstanding service at RAF Brize Norton
RAF Brize Norton hosted its annual BRAVOS Awards evening celebrating the successes and achievements of Station personnel. Serving personnel, civil servants and contractors were nominated in one of 10 categories, recognising those who make a positive
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Marco Pierre White spotted at Jeremy Clarkson’s Oxfordshire pub
Jeremy Clarkson has welcomed celebrity chef Marco Pierre White to his Oxfordshire pub. The former Top Gear host purchased The Windmill in Asthall near Burford for around £1,000,000 and renamed it The Farmer’s Dog earlier this year. Fans have
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Paedo JAILED for numerous rapes and other child sex offences across 20 years
A paedophile from Botley has been jailed for numerous rapes and other child sex offences across the county over a span of 20 years. Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit, Benjamin Leach, aged 35, of
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Engraved engagement ring discovered at depths of Oxford waterway
An engraved engagement ring has been discovered in the depths of a waterway in Oxford. Claire Voss from Thame is a part of Thame Magnet Fishing Group and scours the water in the county for rare finds. Yet whilst searching Mill Stream in Oxford
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Jeremy Clarkson tells fans to pick his alcohol over James May’s rival booze
Jeremy Clarkson has advised fans to avoid James May’s alcohol in favour of his own. The pair have presented popular shows Top Gear and The Grand Tour together along with co-star Richard Hammond for 22 years but called time together professionally
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Listed wall repair in city centre finally complete after year-long wait
A footway on a road in central Oxford which was closed for more than a year due to safety concerns has finally reopened. Two sets of listed walls in Abingdon Road were considered dangerous to the public in October last year, resulting in the pavement
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Police praise courage of sexual assault victim after paedophile jailed
Police have praised the courage of a victim of sexual assault after a paedophile was jailed for nine years. Stephen Shepherd, aged 61, of Perry’s Road, Stanford-in-the-Vale, was found guilty by unanimous jury verdicts of three counts of sexual
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Australian champion to return for Spires in 2025
OXFORD Spires have announced that Rohan Tungate will return for a second season in 2025. The 34-year-old Australian joins Luke Killeen as a confirmed starter for Spires next year, after a successful 2024 season. Tungate won his second Australian
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£2 bus fare cap will be scrapped in budget
The £2 bus fare cap will be replaced by a new £3 cap until the end of 2025 at this week’s budget which will have an impact on Oxfordshire passengers. In a speech in Birmingham today, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he knows “how much this
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What to expect as an A Level student visiting Warwick University
Deciding the next stage after A levels and finding a place that feels right is a large step for students, involving many trips to universities and consideration of courses and living arrangements. Warwick university offers lots of help and guidance
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Concern over rising trend of children missing school lessons
One in 38 children in Oxfordshire are now missing at least half their lessons, new figures show. It comes as new data from the Department for Education shows severe absence rates have risen everywhere across England since before the coronavirus
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How do U’s compare after first 12 games with other promoted sides?
OXFORD United have seen a hugely encouraging start plateau somewhat in their first dozen games of the season. The U’s have won three and drawn five of those first 12 matches, leaving them 14th in the Sky Bet Championship table, three points clear
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Residents praise 'effective' new 20mph speed limit amid countywide review
Environmental campaigners praised a reduced 20mph speed limit while presenting evidence it is proving effective in their town. Analysis run by Sustainable Woodstock using Chat GPT and Google data sources showed car speeds are well below the previous
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Major plans for new nursery and shops on large Oxfordshire housing estate
Major plans to build a new nursery and a range of shops at a housing development near an Oxfordshire town have been lodged. The scheme, submitted by HDD Banbury Ltd, is for Longford Park just outside Banbury. Longford Park is a development
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Youngest student at Oxford University speaks about uni life
Oxford University’s youngest student has opened up about his first month at the historic institution. Miguel Donaire Arcas-Sariot of Granada, Spain was just 15 years old when he gained a place at the University of Oxford. Born in 2008, the
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Britain's Got Talent star and radio presenter watches Oxfordshire boxer win fight
An Oxfordshire boxer said it was "surreal" to see Britain's Got Talent (BGT) star and radio presenter Jordan Banjo watching a boxing match he competed in. The star watched the the Quest regional heavyweight championships in Copthorne in which
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Paedophile jailed for nine years after sexually assaulting six-year-old girl
A paedophile has been jailed for nine years after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl. Stephen Shepherd, 60, was on trial at Oxford Crown Court charged with three counts of assaulting a child under 13 by touching and two
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Warning issued to customers over fewer trains running this week
Fewer trains will be running between Oxford and London today and tomorrow. Chiltern Railways has issued a statement urging people to check before travelling to and from London Marylebone on Monday, October 28 and Tuesday, October 29. READ
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Four vehicles involved in big crash on major motorway as police comment
Police in Oxfordshire have commented following a crash involving four vehicles over the weekend. The incident happened at around 7pm last night (Sunday, October 27) as a multi-vehicle crash occurred on the M40. This was between Junction 8
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ITV reveal release date for new crime series starring Endeavour’s Shaun Evans
ITV have revealed the full release date for Endeavour’s Shaun Evans’ latest crime drama. The actor played the titular character for 11 years of the Oxford-filmed Endeavour before the much-loved series came to an end with its final episode on March
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How could pensions and pensioners be impacted by the Budget
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce the autumn Budget this week (Wednesday, October 30), marking the first time a Labour government has had control of the Budget since 2010. It's expected that Reeves is aiming to generate funds of £20bn for
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Police in attendance after crash on A34
11:24am End of blog UPDATE 11:23AM The earlier collision on the #A34 Northbound Slip road towards #Peartree
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Warning over odd rule when filling up at Tesco petrol station
Drivers are being made aware of a little-known rule in place at Tesco petrol stations. While filling up your vehicle with fuel should be fairly straightforward, those looking to fill up anything else should be wary of the obscure regulation.
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U’s keep up pressure at top of table with strong win
OXFORD United Women kept up the pressure at the top of the Southern Premier Division table. The U’s ran out 4-0 winners at home against Billericay Town, with two goals scored in each half. United made a strong start, with Leah Burridge firing
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'Disappointed' Waitrose shoppers ‘deleting app' over axe of free perk this week
Waitrose shoppers have said they are “disappointed” to find the supermarket has axed one of its popular free perks. Loyal customers have been able to receive free newspaper vouchers since 2013 but from tomorrow (October 29), no further discount
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Strictly's JB Gill breaks silence after Amy Dowden 'collapses' backstage
Strictly Come Dancing star JB Gill has broken his silence following his professional partner Amy Dowden becoming unwell on Saturday night (October 26). Amy was taken to hospital after “feeling unwell” following the live show over the weekend, with
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Warning as major Oxfordshire road closes for TWO WEEKS
A major Oxfordshire road will be shut for close to two weeks. Whitelands Way in Bicester was closed earlier today (Monday, October 28) for resurfacing works with motorists forced to find alternative routes. The closure is expected to last for
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Lidl to open new stores ahead of Christmas creating 400 new jobs
Lidl has announced it will open a number of new stores before Christmas, creating a further 400 jobs in the sector ahead of the festive season. The new stores include London sites in Hoxton, Forest Gate and Caterham, while three existing stores
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Police update on man who fell down stairs of bus near Westgate
Police have given an update on a man hospitalised after falling down the stairs of an Oxford bus. A man is in hospital in critical condition after falling down the stairs of a bus in Oxford city centre. Thames Valley Police and South Central
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Boy, 16, ‘hit over head’ with wrench by attacker in tracksuit
An Oxfordshire boy was attacked and hit over the head with a wrench. The incident occurred at around 10.30pm on Friday, October 18 on High Street in Banbury. Whilst walking to Banbury Fair with his friends, a 16-year-old male was hit over
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Emergency beds to be offered to rough sleepers in Oxford this winter
Emergency beds will be offered to people sleeping rough in Oxford this winter. Oxford City Council will activate its severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP), emergency accommodation for anyone experiencing rough sleeping, when freezing overnight
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Tell-tale signs that indicate you've got a mould or damp problem at home
Looking after our homes is a task that never ends and with mould and damp able to spread if you don’t notice it, knowing what to look for is important. Mould and damp can become a problem in the colder months when the heating comes on and condensation
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Why Coronation Street's iconic theme tune temporarily changed this weekend
Coronation Street fans might have noticed a different theme tune on Sunday’s (October 27) episode following Gail Platt’s cardiac arrest. The classic theme tune, known by many, was changed to the sound of a flatlining heartbeat. In scenes aired
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'My Oxford dream turned into a nightmare', says PhD student snubbed by university
An Indian PhD student said her "Oxford dream turned into a nightmare" after the university rejected her thesis idea in her fourth year, despite accepting it at the application stage. Lakshmi Balakrishnan, from Tamil Nadu in southern India, has
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Young actors chosen for Cinderella pantomime in Didcot
Sixteen young actors have been chosen to be part of a Cinderella pantomime in Didcot this Christmas. The budding actors were selected following auditions held on September 14 at the Cornerstone Arts Centre, where the performances will also take
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Scales of Justice: The latest cases from Oxford Magistrates' Court
The latest court cases in Oxford Magistrates' Court: - KEVIN MFULU, 32, of Fotheringham Road, Enfield, pleaded guilty to drug driving on February 27 this year in Oxfordshire. He was given a community order to complete 150 hours of unpaid work
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Fears over loss of popular retail park if major plans for labs and offices go ahead
People are slamming a developer over plans to build huge new labs and offices on one of the biggest retail parks in Oxford. The scheme would see three buildings constructed on the popular Botley Retail Park. The retail park is home to stores
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Bank has plans for city centre branch refused over its 'detrimental' design
A high street bank has had plans refused to move into a building in Oxford city centre. Barclays Bank applied for signage and and to fill a unit in the Northgate/Cheng Yu Tung Building in Cornmarket Street which was opened by Jesus College in
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Street trading changes up for public consultation
Updates to community and charity events, markets, and single-use plastics could come into force as South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils look to "provide more clarity" on street trading in the area. The councils are reviewing
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Cyclist event to take place in Oxford aimed at 'improving road safety'
A cyclist event in the city centre next month will be aimed at "improving road safety", organisers have said. Oxfordshire County Council, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, the University of Oxford and Thames Valley Police are teaming up to
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School 'delighted' head pupil shortlisted for climate champion award
A school in Abingdon was "delighted" when one of its head pupils was shortlisted for an award at the Oxford Climate Awards. Sarika Biradar, a student at Thameside Primary School, was the youngest one of just four finalists for the Oxford Mail
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Man found guilty of historic sexual offences
An Oxfordshire man has been found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage girl in the late 1990s. John Westland, of Horseshoes Close, Appleton, near Abingdon, was on trial charged with historic child sex offences. The 61-year-old was found guilty
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MP calls on chancellor to fund level crossing ahead of budget
An MP has called on the chancellor for funding to keep a town's level crossing open ahead of the budget this week. The MP for Bicester and Woodstock, Calum Miller, has written to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, ahead of Wednesday (October 30), calling
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John Lewis and Waitrose to hire 12,500 staff ahead of 'busy' Christmas period
The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) is set to hire 12,500 temporary staff in its biggest ever recruitment drive ahead of the 2024 Christmas period. The retail group said it will hire staff across its John Lewis and Waitrose stores. JLP said the
