Almost five hundred officers are trying to leave Thames Valley Police as the force's retention crisis deepens. A survey of Thames Valley officers by their union, the Police Federation, reveals 493 -- about 13 per cent -- have jobs or interviews lined
A fitness trainer and sports therapist to a Formula 1 motor racing team will put his own stamina to the test on a marathon cycle ride. Phil Young, from Milton, near Abingdon, works for the Renault F1 team, based at Enstone, and trains drivers Jenson Button
Soldiers and volunteers cleared plants from the Ock Valley Walk in Abingdon as part of a scheme to transform the area into a nature reserve. Peter Green, a Vale of White Horse district and Abingdon town councillor, recently returned from a forest project
Teaching staff at Ruskin College are in open rebellion over plans to move the college from its two historic homes to a site in North Oxford. The college wants to sell its sites in Walton Street and Old Headington to fund a multi-million pound relocation
It is business as usual for the six companies on Wallingford's Station Road industrial estate. Comments in the newly-issued Wallingford Town Plan indicate the site is earmarked for housing. Mark Brett, of the Haynes Brothers garage, said the comments
Kia Welch is only three but is already developing green fingers. Kia Welch The Carterton toddler helps her parents on their Swinbrook Road allotment and is to get a prize for her efforts. Her father Marc Welch has won the town council's best-kept half-plot
Firefighters saved four bulls which were trapped in a trailer after a road accident. Emergency services had to cut the bulls free using hydraulic equipment. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called at 10.52am on Wednesday to the A418 Thame bypass
Sunday's cricket fixtures featuring Oxfordshire teams include the following: CRICKET MINOR COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP Western Div: Oxfordshire v Wiltshire (Thame, 1st day of 3). OCA LEAGUE Airey Cup semi-finals: Westbury v Freeland, Brill v Great Horwood.
Cricket fixtures featuring Oxfordshire teams this Saturday include the following: HOME COUNTIES PREMIER LEAGUE Div 1: Bicester & N Oxford v Slough, Henley v Banbury. Div 2 West: Oxford v Falkland. THE OXFORD TIMES CHERWELL LEAGUE Div 1: Kimble v Aston
A new group encouraging older people in the Didcot area to stay active wants to increase attendance at its sessions. Older and Bolder meets in the Civic Hall every Friday at 10am. Sessions cost £1. Co-ordinator Val Kir said: "Everyone is welcome. The
It is business as usual for the six companies on Wallingford's Station Road industrial estate. Comments in the newly-issued Wallingford Town Plan indicate the site is earmarked for housing. Mark Brett, of the Haynes Brothers garage, said the comments
A PlayStation bought fraudulently on the Internet has been given to charity. Pc Tony Leach, Sandra Barton-Nicol of Argos and Andrew Jackson of Helen House. Retailer Argos has donated the PlayStation II, games and DVDs, bought from its Wantage branch,
A driver who committed a "tragic eight-second error of judgement" in overtaking a queue of cars has been sentenced to a 200-hour community punishment order. Gary Axten, 34, was driving to work in his Land Rover when he decided to overtake a line of traffic
Former Wheatley Park School pupil Tommy O'Driscoll has appealed for donations to fund a teaching trip to Ukraine. Mr O'Driscoll, 19, needs to raise £800 to cover the cost of working as a volunteer school teacher in Kiev for two months from Saturday, August
Residents opposed to a new retail estate on Oxford's Botley Road have bombarded city councillors with letters condemning the plans. In June, councillors unanimously rejected plans by Lamarsh Developments to demolish the existing Courts and Jewson premises
Underwater police search teams were yesterday (July 25) scouring ponds to find a sawn-off shotgun used to shoot a man after he had been abducted in Oxford. Officers search a pond for the shotgun The 25-year-old from Oxford was allegedly driving along
Over-55s are being targeted in a bid to boost tourism in Wallingford. They will be offered themed weekends, short breaks, weekly packages and tours to attract them to the town. They have been targeted by Wallingford Business Partnership after a survey
You might think that £250,000 is a lot to pay for a 500-year-old dirty joke. But that is what the Ashmolean wants to raise for a bawdy work of art that would guarantee raised eyebrows and titters in the famous Oxford museum. The piece in question is known
A PlayStation bought fraudulently on the Internet has been given to charity. Pc Tony Leach, Sandra Barton-Nicol of Argos and Andrew Jackson of Helen House. Retailer Argos has donated the PlayStation II, games and DVDs, bought from its Wantage branch,
Children enjoyed an action-packed time at the Home-Start Oxford annual family picnic. Pictured are Tommy, two, and Andrew, three About 80 people attended the event in Florence Park on Wednesday, where attractions for children included a playbus, bouncy
Mobile phone company Vodafone has given £10,000 to four Banbury charities. Katharine House Hospice, Macmillan Nurses, The Horton Hospital, and BARKS (Banbury Animal Rescue and Kindness Service) each received £2,500 after staff at Vodafone's Adderbury
Underwater police search teams were yesterday (July 25) scouring ponds to find a sawn-off shotgun used to shoot a man after he had been abducted in Oxford. Officers search a pond for the shotgun The 25-year-old from Oxford was allegedly driving along
Banbury's award-winning Animation Station celebrated its sixth anniversary on Wednesday (July 24) by staging an open day. Rory Nowlan, seven, and Adam Craiger, eight, above, use Plasticine models to make cartoons Visitors to the station, in the town hall
A former electrician hanged himself from a tree after finding a mental health clinic he turned to for help was closed for refurbishment. Michael Cattanach was found asphyxiated on January 12 in the grounds of The Horton Hospital, Banbury, where the Elms
Future generations will learn how women wore saris in 2002, thanks to the Ethnic Minority Business Service. Shaila Srinivasan with Kanti Gopal at the museum The service runs machine-sewing classes for Asian women in Oxford, many of whom design and make
A village charity is re-advertising for "a widow or spinster" who needs a home. The women-only vacancy is at the 18th century Frances Geering Almshouses in High Street, Harwell, near Didcot. Initially the semi-detached bungalows housed six widows "in
Two Liberal Democrat Oxford city councillors are to draw lots to see who should stand for re-election first. For the first time in living memory at the town hall, the process will be decided by the drawing of names from a bag. At the city council elections
Faringdon is set for a facelift after consultation with residents highlighted several areas for improvement. The Faringdon Healthcheck is funded by the Countryside Agency to survey all aspects of life in the town, including transport, the environment
Young people can now take part in free sporting activities organised by Oxford City Council. Oxford City Council is offering street hockey activities this summer The council is offering free skate hockey, football and basketball around the city for anyone
A day school is being organised to bring together agencies working with asylum seekers. The charity Asylum Welcome is organising the event at St Columba's United Reformed Church, Alfred Street, off High Street, Oxford, on Saturday, September 14. The open
You might think that £250,000 is a lot to pay for a 500-year-old dirty joke. But that is what the Ashmolean wants to raise for a bawdy work of art that would guarantee raised eyebrows and titters in the famous Oxford museum. The piece in question is known
Kia Welch is only three but is already developing green fingers. Kia Welch The Carterton toddler helps her parents on their Swinbrook Road allotment and is to get a prize for her efforts. Her father Marc Welch has won the town council's best-kept half-plot
The rat run road where a four-year-old girl was knocked down earlier this year has been closed. Kash Hunt was hit by a motorist outside her home in Freelands Road, off Donnington Bridge Road, Oxford, in April. She suffered a deep cut running from the
A former electrician hanged himself from a tree after finding a mental health clinic he turned to for help was closed for refurbishment. Michael Cattanach was found asphyxiated on January 12 in the grounds of The Horton Hospital, Banbury, where the Elms
Two Liberal Democrat Oxford city councillors are to draw lots to see who should stand for re-election first. For the first time in living memory at the town hall, the process will be decided by the drawing of names from a bag. At the city council elections
The family of a woman who died of cervical cancer after doctors diagnosed her too late has been awarded more than £200,000 damages. Tracey Edwards, of Bray Close, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, was 26 when she died at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in May 1997
A day school is being organised to bring together agencies working with asylum seekers. The charity Asylum Welcome is organising the event at St Columba's United Reformed Church, Alfred Street, off High Street, Oxford, on Saturday, September 14. The open
A scheme to cut youth crime is up and running on Banbury's Bretch Hill estate. Splash Extra, a Government-backed project, has been launched during the school summer holidays for young people living in the area -- one of the worst estates for crime in
Health service improvements made in the last 18 months could be lost if major changes are made to primary care in Oxfordshire, according to a report. NHS managers said the county's five existing primary care trusts (PCTs), responsible for community hospitals
Campsfield House detention centre in Kidlington is to remain open until September 2004, the Home Office has announced. The decision was made after a fire at another centre, Yarl's Wood in Bedfordshire, cut capacity for housing what the Home Office described
It's crunch time for Oxford Cheetahs when they welcome the King's Lynn Knights for the return Sky Sports Elite League clash at the Stadium tonight (July, 26, 7.30pm). Anything less than the three points on offer will mean a more-or-less hopeless task
Oxford United are preparing for their biggest ever Family Day at The Kassam Stadium this Sunday, when Leicester City are the visitors. United legend Matt Elliott is set to return to the city for the pre-season friendly, which kicks off at 3pm. But a whole
Oxfordshire coach Jack Potter will be warning his side not to get complacent ahead of their Minor Counties Championship clash with lowly Wiltshire at Thame, starting on Sunday, writes Richard Tilley. Giles Peddy is unavailable for Oxfordshire's game against
West Oxfordshire Animal Rescue has appealed for women to take part in a fundraising run in London. Peggy the guinea pig with WOAR founder Janet Butler Sponsorship will be used to care for abandoned animals and find them new homes. The group is seeking
Campsfield House detention centre in Kidlington is to remain open until September 2004, the Home Office has announced. The decision was made after a fire at another centre, Yarl's Wood in Bedfordshire, cut capacity for housing what the Home Office described
Over-55s are being targeted in a bid to boost tourism in Wallingford. They will be offered themed weekends, short breaks, weekly packages and tours to attract them to the town. They have been targeted by Wallingford Business Partnership after a survey
Sunday's tennis fixtures featuring Oxfordshire teams include the following: WILSON OXON LTA LEAGUE 3-PAIR LEAGUE Mixed Div 1: Witney v Oxford City B. Div 2: Abingdon B v Abingdon. Div 3: Bicester B v Banbury B. Div 4: Thame B v North Oxford D. 2-PAIR
Saturday's tennis fixtures featuring Oxfordshire teams include the following: WILSON OXON LTA LEAGUE 3-PAIR LEAGUE Ladies Div 2: Banbury West End v Bicester B. Men's Div 5: Bicester D v Witney D. Mixed Div 1: North Oxford B v Bicester. Div 2: Kings Sutton
A Bicester doctor who led a fundraising appeal to pay for an x-ray department to be set up in the town's hospital retires today (July 26). Dr Richard Stephenson, who has worked in Bicester for 33 years, has always been involved in developments at Bicester
Frances North is scared of heights but will put her fears to one side on Sunday (28 July) in a fundraising effort. Mrs North, 57, the appeals co-ordinator of the John Masefield Cheshire Home, in Burcot, near Wallingford, will abseil 150ft down a building
A former police officer, who claims a traumatic interview with a male colleague forced her out of her job, has won the first round of her High Court battle for a bigger pension. Dinah McCormack, of Rawthey Avenue, Didcot, had served with Thames Valley
A former police officer, who claims a traumatic interview with a male colleague forced her out of her job, has won the first round of her High Court battle for a bigger pension. Dinah McCormack, of Rawthey Avenue, Didcot, had served with Thames Valley
A new group encouraging older people in the Didcot area to stay active wants to increase attendance at its sessions. Older and Bolder meets in the Civic Hall every Friday at 10am. Sessions cost £1. Co-ordinator Val Kir said: "Everyone is welcome. The
Children enjoyed an action-packed time at the Home-Start Oxford annual family picnic. Pictured are Tommy, two, and Andrew, three About 80 people attended the event in Florence Park on Wednesday, where attractions for children included a playbus, bouncy
A driver who committed a "tragic eight-second error of judgement" in overtaking a queue of cars has been sentenced to a 200-hour community punishment order. Gary Axten, 34, was driving to work in his Land Rover when he decided to overtake a line of traffic
Soldiers and volunteers cleared plants from the Ock Valley Walk in Abingdon as part of a scheme to transform the area into a nature reserve. Peter Green, a Vale of White Horse district and Abingdon town councillor, recently returned from a forest project
Banbury's award-winning Animation Station celebrated its sixth anniversary on Wednesday (July 24) by staging an open day. Rory Nowlan, seven, and Adam Craiger, eight, above, use Plasticine models to make cartoons Visitors to the station, in the town hall
Young people can now take part in free sporting activities organised by Oxford City Council. Oxford City Council is offering street hockey activities this summer The council is offering free skate hockey, football and basketball around the city for anyone
Residents opposed to a new retail estate on Oxford's Botley Road have bombarded city councillors with letters condemning the plans. In June, councillors unanimously rejected plans by Lamarsh Developments to demolish the existing Courts and Jewson premises
A scheme to cut youth crime is up and running on Banbury's Bretch Hill estate. Splash Extra, a Government-backed project, has been launched during the school summer holidays for young people living in the area -- one of the worst estates for crime in
Telecoms giant BT has posted a massive leap in its fortunes, despite a disappointing sales performance. Pre-tax profits in the three months to June 30 came in at £322m, a 61 per cent surge on the same period last year, which BT said reflected the "underlying
A top Oxford publishing executive has been lured from his job to become editorial director of Granta, in London. George Miller has been editorial director of Oxford University Press's trade division for the last three years. The post at Granta was left
Research at Oxford University on nanotechnology will transform the lives of everyone in the UK, according to Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt. She said work at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, in Chilton, near Didcot, and at companies at
RUGBY club officials have welcomed the news that a buyer has been lined up for their ground. Commercial property developer Russell Harrison met the committee of Banbury Rugby Club after being identified as the preferred bidder for the Bodicote Park site
The rat run road where a four-year-old girl was knocked down earlier this year has been closed. Kash Hunt was hit by a motorist outside her home in Freelands Road, off Donnington Bridge Road, Oxford, in April. She suffered a deep cut running from the
A Bicester doctor who led a fundraising appeal to pay for an x-ray department to be set up in the town's hospital retires today (July 26). Dr Richard Stephenson, who has worked in Bicester for 33 years, has always been involved in developments at Bicester
A former electrician hanged himself from a tree after finding a mental health clinic he turned to for help was closed for refurbishment. Michael Cattanach was found asphyxiated on January 12 in the grounds of The Horton Hospital, Banbury, where the Elms
Teaching staff at Ruskin College are in open rebellion over plans to move the college from its two historic homes to a site in North Oxford. The college wants to sell its sites in Walton Street and Old Headington to fund a multi-million pound relocation
Parks in Oxford will become safer places for children after councillors set up a sponsorship deal which will provide more bins for dog waste. Bayer representative, Ted Armitage, joins Jason Hedley, Oxford area parks manager, vet Peter Johnson and his
Major hospitals in Oxfordshire are struggling to make spending cuts of £10.5m, more than twice the savings they achieved last year. The Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, responsible for Oxford's John Radcliffe, Churchill, and Radcliffe Infirmary,
