A fraudster who impersonated learner drivers to take theory tests for them was jailed today. Illegal immigrant Palwinder Johal - who police said was part of the country's biggest driving test fraud - sat theory tests at centres across the UK before
Oxford United boss Darren Patterson will be ordering his defence not to drop so deep when they take on Eastbourne Borough at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday as they hope to make it third time lucky. He said: "We need to be a bit more horrible all over
Wheatley's Fran Houghton will be hoping to help Great Britain add to their medals tally when she competes in the final of women's quad sculls on Saturday. It promises to be a battle royale with Germany and China expected to put up formidable opposition
Oxfordshire's Mara Yamauchi will be looking to continue the form that saw the 34-year-old finish ninth in the world championships when she competes in Sunday's marathon (12.30am BST). In January, the former Headington Roadrunners, 34, set a personal
A teenager was killed in a motorcycle crash just hours after he got his AS Level results. Guy Evans, 17, died as he was riding with three friends in Featherbed Lane - a well known cut-through between Wantage and the Hendreds and Didcot - just before
A £2.1m redevelopment of Oxford's OFS Studio will lead to the closure of the venue's popular nightclub. Oxford City Council has confirmed that by redeveloping the arts and leisure complex, between Gloucester Green and George Street, formerly known as
Police are to review the safety of the area outside an Oxford nightclub's entrance after an incident which left a man fighting for his life. East Oxford's area police Inspector Brian Cooper vowed to produce a "safety by design" report about the junction
Oxford businessman Clinton Pugh has closed one of his restaurants just days after the city council threw out conversion plans for a third time. Mr Pugh, who owns a number of eateries in the city, applied for planning permission to demolish the Lemon
Oxford author Philip Pullman compared the Jericho canalside with the beauty of Venice today in a bid to stop a flats development getting the go-ahead. Last year the city council turned down Spring Residential's plan to build 54 one- and two-bedroom
Sinbad's sword, dwarf puppets and a levitation device have been listed among the lots at an auction of theatre goods. Bosses at the Creation Theatre Company hope to raise £10,000 by selling hundreds of costumes and props used in the group's plays.
Police are hunting a man who attempted to hold up a shop in Littlemore, Oxford, at knifepoint yesterday. The man entered TR Stores, in St Nicholas Road, brandishing a knife at about 10.30pm. He demanded cash, but left empty handed. He was wearing
One of west Oxfordshire's visitor information centres has been praised for its green credentials. The Burford centre, at the Brewery in Sheep Street, run by the district council, picked up a bronze award in this year's accolades from the Green Tourism
Plans for a Hindu temple in Oxford have gained support from the city's Nepalese community. Two weeks ago the Oxford Mail revealed the county's 500-strong Hindu community planned to construct a £2m temple, with Headington being earmarked as a potential
Can you keep a secret? Don’t tell the Oxford Mail, but I am skiving today. I have forsaken my duties to the Oxford rowers! This morning I went to athletics and watched Marilyn Okoro come through her heat comfortably – and got a hug! It was also amazing
Can you keep a secret? Don’t tell the Oxford Mail, but I am skiving today. I have forsaken my duties to the Oxford rowers! This morning I went to athletics and watched Marilyn Okoro come through her heat comfortably – and got a hug! It was also amazing
Can you keep a secret? Don’t tell the Oxford Mail, but I am skiving today. I have forsaken my duties to the Oxford rowers! This morning I went to athletics and watched Marilyn Okoro come through her heat comfortably - and got a hug! It was also amazing
Can you keep a secret? Don’t tell the Oxford Mail, but I am skiving today. I have forsaken my duties to the Oxford rowers! This morning I went to athletics and watched Marilyn Okoro come through her heat comfortably - and got a hug! It was also amazing
This week I have been covering the Jericho boatyard planning inquiry, which has meant several journeys into Oxford and beyond. Journalists need to be multi-skilled these days, and after filming a demonstration outside the town hall, I ventured down into
AEA Technology 49.5 BMW 2343 Electrocomponents 170.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 132.5 Oxford Biomedica 10.1 Oxford Catalyst 168.5 Oxford Instruments 217.5 Reed Elsevier 598.5 RM 177.5 RPS Group 294.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
Sixty-nine anglers fought it out in the latest Drennan Super League round fished on the Thames at Kelmscott, Radcot and Clanfield. It was a very hard match and the average weight was only 3.8.0. Pegged at Kelmscott, Steve Townsend (BGS Garbolino)
"It fished its socks off!" That's how Alder's Farm was described to me after last Sunday's Carp League 2008 match. The 19 matchmen amassed 2,517lb of fish and there were 15 weights over 100lb. For the second week running, Andy Benwell (Predator)
BIOTECH firm Oxford BioMedica has rejected a second takeover approach by an American firm. Directors at the company based on the Oxford Science Park originally vetoed a move by GeneThera in July and have now blocked a second attempt which would have
The future of Oxford city centre management company OX1 is in doubt after its plan to introduce a business improvement district was rejected by traders. Under the scheme, championed by chief executive Oliver O'Dell, businesses would pay out an extra
Mark Denton, from Abingdon, caught a monster chub from a tiny backwater near his home. The fished, which took a worm on a size 14 hook to 6lb Maxima straight through, weighed in at 7lb. Mark spent the first couple of hours trying to outsmart the crayfish
Car thieves have been warned they are living on borrowed time after Oxford police arrested 11 suspects in a crackdown on vehicle crime. Five people were charged after the arrests in Headington, Greater Leys and East Oxford on Monday and Tuesday. Two
CRICKET: Oxfordshire Under 13s enjoyed a successful trip to Guernsey only to lose gallantly in the final to Dorset. With wins against Bucks and Guernsey and a defeat by Dorset in their group games, Oxon topped the table on run rate to book a place in
CRICKET: Oxfordshire Under 11s slipped to a 78-run defeat away to Essex. Despite some accurate Oxon bowling, Essex made 168-8, with Henry Portman (2-21) and Alex Davies (2-32) the pick of the attack. Oxon never really recovered from losing early wickets
CRICKET: Richard Cook smashed 84 to steer Didcot to an eight-wicket win over Horspath in Section D of the Oxfordshire Under 17 Club Championship. Cook was given good support by Shaun Burningham (36) and Jordan Morrison (33no) as Didcot raced to 169-
ICE HOCKEY: Oxford Stars fans get their first chance to see the new signings when the team take on Coventry Skydome in a challenge fixture on Sunday (6.00). It's the first of a number of challenge matches before the Stars' regular season begins in mid-September
More than a dozen teams of Bangladeshi canoeists are gearing up to make a splash in Oxford. Teams from across the country are expected to take part in traditional Bangladeshi canoe racing on the River Thames at Donnington Bridge on Sunday, August 24
Police are appealing for information after a 17-year-old motorcyclist was killed on a road in East Hendred, near Wantage, last night. The teenager, who is yet to be named, was travelling on his motorcycle along Featherbed Lane with three other motorcycles
Great Britain's men's team sprint trio defeated France to win GB's third gold of the Games in the first track cycling final in Beijing. Jamie Staff, Jason Kenny and Chris Hoy had three superb rides, with a winning time of 43.128secs in the final.
Breast cancer sufferer Margaret Brown has pledged her support for a walk in the park in Oxford to help raise £1m for a new cancer centre. People are being urged to sign up for the three-mile long walk in Oxford university parks, which is suitable for
Children will soon have a safe route to school when work is finished on a long-awaited footpath. Parents and local councillors called for a new path because they said the present route to Wantage Primary School, in Newbury Street, was dangerous. The
A father has formed a football club in Greater Leys to encourage young people to take pride in their estate. Nick Courtney-Cramp joined other parents to create Greater Leys Youth FC -- the first football club to represent the area. More than 50 boys
Schools computer group RM has appointed Ronan Smith, 42, as group managing director for education resources and curriculum software. He succeeds Terry Sweeney, who was recently named chief executive designate of the company, which is based at Milton
The Home Office confirmed today detainees at Campsfield House in Kidlington were still refusing meals. But it said the situation remained under control and played down suggestions as many as 70 asylum seekers were on hunger strike. A UK Borders Agency
In reply to Val Faulkner's letter, College guilty of desecration (Oxford Mail, July 31), expressing her sadness at the metal sculpture skeleton of a supposed tree, can I just say - how dare she? Does she not realise that this was merely a demonstration
The parish councils of Kidlington and Gosford and Water Eaton have been shocked to receive a letter from the Environment Agency saying that it will not remove obstructions at the River Cherwell flood plain culverts along the Bicester Road and A34. The
I was shocked and horrified to read that some MPs are campaigning to scrap their traditional oath of allegiance to the Queen. According to one national newspaper, they believe their "principle duty should be to the people who voted for them, not the
Readers can register their comments on the proposed new reservoir, which Thames Water says is necessary, at www.thameswaterconsult.co.uk Sadly, this website is very user-unfriendly. It appears to be impossible only to comment on the reservoir. It
I write about the proposed reservoir near Abingdon. As your readers may be aware, the deadline for public response to the Thames Water Draft Water Resources Plan is August 27. The process for responding is either online or in paper format. As a
I was pleased to read that a road is to be named after Connie Norman, who was headmistress of Rose Hill First School in Oxford for 12 years (Oxford Mail, July 11). I and many of my friends went to the school. It's about time we recognised a person
I spent an entire weekend reviewing the tapes from the 16 or so Big Brother cameras in my local pub, the Wheatsheaf in Didcot, which were nailed to the ceiling a few months ago. The results must be seen to be believed. Three people have been cautioned
Three words ...women, M&S, paying. Two represent all that is good with the world - expensive but delicious morsels in fancy packaging, and reliable, all-cotton underwear. But combine with the word 'paying' and what you end up with is a heady cocktail
Two important new additions to the Cowley scene are trainer Steve Rayner and Reading's leading bookmaker Stephen Harris. Rayner, who is 56, contracted to Swindon until the end of the month, has been training for 12 years, with previous stints at Henlow
Showcasing Oxfordshire's rich seam of Life Sciences talent with Nigel Wild, head of Oxford-based consultancy Nigel Wild Associates The old adage of "it's not what you know, it's who you know," is a keystone of business, and networking the lifeblood
Palgrave Chief, who carries local hopes, faces a huge task in the £2,500 Property Care Complete Maintenance Ltd Oxfordshire Stakes decider over 450 metres at Oxford Stadium tonight. The black and white dog, trained by Paul Clarke and owned by Robert
The number of homeowners at risk of losing their homes in the Oxford area has soared by more than 50% in the past year, figures showed today. A total of 147 mortgage possession orders were made at Oxford County Court during the second quarter of this
Most people with any kind of interest in cars will raise an eyebrow at the mention of Alfa Romeo. Mention that it's a sporty Alfa Romeo, and they will slide forward to the edge of their seat, lean in a bit closer and listen with undivided attention.
The A415 is closed in both directions between Moreton Lane and Langley's Lane because of a tree, which has fallen in to the road. The road is closed from the Rose Revived pub up to North Moors junction. A diversion is in place, but is not suitable for
The Home Office confirmed today detainees at Campsfield House in Kidlington were still refusing meals. But it said the situation remained under control and played down suggestions as many as 70 asylum seekers were on hunger strike. A UK Borders Agency
AEA Technology 49.5 BMW 2336 Electrocomponents 168.75 Nationwide Accident Repair 132.5 Oxford Biomedica 9.5 Oxford Catalyst 168.5 Oxford Instruments 217.5 Reed Elsevier 608.75 RM 177.5 RPS Group 195.25 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon
Wallingford's Helen Casey and crewmate Hester Goodsell missed out on a place for Great Britain in the women's lightweight double rowing final. They came fifth in their semi-final to drop into the B final. Casey said: "We gave it our best shot. It's
Great Britain's lightweight men's four - including Wallingford's Paul Mattick and Oxford-educated Richard Chambers - have qualified for this weekend's rowing final. Mattick, Chambers and crewmates James Lindsay-Fynn and James Clarke went through despite
HONDA'S new Jazz is expected to be launched in British showrooms in mid-October. The more spacious, more versatile interior, plus impressive fuel economy and low emissions, will see it quickly climb the supermini sales tree in these credit crunch times
The new Ka, Ford's funky small car will take centre stage at the 2008 Paris Motor Show in October. Ford says that 12 years after the original Ka was launched to great acclaim, its successor captures the same youthful and cheeky spirit. Roelant de
Motorists are being urged to save money in these expensive times by thoroughly checking their cars before submitting them for the annual MoT. That's the sound advice for used car owners from John Haynes, who heads up the famous car DIY manual publishing
The number of homeowners at risk of losing their homes has risen by nearly a quarter in the past year, figures showed today. Government data showed a total of 28,658 mortgage possession orders were made in England and Wales during the second quarter
Disgraced singer Gary Glitter will be met by police on his return to the UK next week. The convicted child molester will be released from jail in Vietnam on Tuesday and flown to London, his lawyer said. Glitter, who is originally from Banbury and
A NANNY who had tea with former American President Franklin D Roosevelt has been celebrating her 100th birthday. But Florence Bennett, who lives at Glebefields Nursing Home, in Drayton, was not alone, as another resident Annie Pocock also reaches the
MORE than 1,000 pieces of children's art will completely take over an Oxford gallery at the end of a year-long project unique to the county. The MY project, co-ordinated by Oxfordshire County Council, has been granted exclusive use of Modern Art Oxford's
OXFORD University looks set to be granted special dispensation to build a new five-storey science block that breaks the city's height limit for buildings. Oxford City Council's strategic planning committee is being recommended to approve a new £29m
A TAXI driver spoke of his relief after being cleared of sexually assaulting a teenage passenger in his cab. A jury at Oxford Crown Court took less than one-and-a-half hours to clear Qazi Rehman of attacking the 15-year-old girl in his silver Volkswagen
Paramedics took one person to hospital this morning after a crash between a car and a lorry on the M40 outside Oxford. The accident happened at 7.20am on the northbound carriageway, between junction eight at Wheatley and nine at Weston-on-the-Green.
A man was rescued from a house in Didcot last night after a fire at his home. Police officers rescued the man from an upstairs bedroom at the semi-detached house in Lea Grove, at 3.35am, and he escaped unhurt. Fire crews from Abingdon, Didcot, and Wallingford
DARREN Patterson is chasing another centre forward. The Oxford United manager believes he needs another striker - and feels he could do with "a big man" up front who can take the pressure off James Constable and Yemi Odubade. He was rebuffed twice
GREAT Britain's men's four - three of whom have strong Oxford connections - look to be the best bet of a gold medal in tomorrow's rowing finals. Steve Williams, Tom James, Peter Reed and Andy Triggs-Hodge, with all but Tom having an Oxford link, have
Looking for a good collection of highly drinkable and very affordable summer reds? Look no further - in this mixed case you will find a range of tasty, fruit-driven wines from around the world that will prove excellent partners to a large variety of
Three major fast food outlets have agreed to step up litter patrols to combat the "unacceptable" piles of rubbish blighting Oxford's busiest street. McDonald's, KFC and Burger King have agreed to join forces with Oxford City Council to provide half-hourly
There will no doubt be the usual crop of cynics anxious to belittle the achievement of our A-Level students. Every year, the pass rate creeps up, and the critics claim the improvement is because exams are getting easier. Perhaps they should try taking
Oxfordshire County Council's promise to put the pedestrian first in its review of Oxford city centre will be widely welcomed. The Oxford Transport Strategy was supposed to remove most of the traffic from the central area. But as every pedestrian knows
It didn't sound like it, but fire up the Legacy Outback and the noise that came from under the bonnet was a world first. The burbling tone was emitted by the world's first 'boxer' diesel car. Subaru has specialised in producing the distinctively-sounding
Five thousand jobs will be created in a £1bn expansion plan at an Oxfordshire science park. Community leaders welcomed news of the investment at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, near Didcot, announced by the Government yesterday. The 20-
