Oxford and Oxfordshire news, sport and information updated throughout the day

Stories for 06 February 2003

Oxfordshire Business

Empty offices fail to worry agents

Empty offices are becoming increasingly common on Oxfordshire's business parks, but agents are upbeat about prospects for the commercial property market.   more...

Allders bid increased

Property group Minerva has raised its agreed bid for department stores group Allders to £161m after thrashing out higher terms with Scottish entrepreneur Tom Hunter.   more...

Accounts duo form larger company

Two accountants in Witney have joined forces to create a larger firm with four partners and eight staff.   more...

Firm has nose for business

An Oxfordshire dog training business has landed a contract to send sniffer dogs into a secondary school to search for drugs.   more...

OUP cuts six jobs

Six jobs are to go at the educational publishing division of Oxford University Press following a strategic review.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Ambulance merger dropped

NHS managers have ruled out unpopular plans to merge ambulance trusts in the Thames Valley.   more...

Meet the manager

Oxford train station's new manager is to meet customers in a special question and answer session.   more...

Police on beat `too raw'

Thames Valley Chief Constable Peter Neyroud has warned that police recruits are being thrust into frontline duty too early.   more...

Royal opens research centre

Eleven years of campaigning came to fruition when Prince Charles officially opened a research centre at Oxford's Warneford Hospital.   more...

Wardens prepare for patrols

A TEAM of street wardens will start work to provide back-up to police in Oxford at the end of February.   more...

Man took life after row with girlfriend

A man threw himself in front of a moving train after a row with his girlfriend, an inquest heard.   more...

Allders bid increased

Property group Minerva has raised its agreed bid for department stores group Allders to £161m after thrashing out higher terms with Scottish entrepreneur Tom Hunter.   more...

Wardens prepare for patrols

A team of street wardens will start work to provide back-up to police in Oxford at the end of February.   more...

Ex-patient donates £3,200 to hospital

A mother who spent nearly a year fighting breast cancer has raised £3,200 to thank medical staff who helped her during her illness.   more...

Lifebelts stay in place

Life-saving equipment on the banks of the River Thames in Oxford is still in place a week after the Oxford Mail investigated the problems of vandalism along the towpath.   more...

Stylist a cut above

Teenager Emma Crouch is already a high-flier in the world of hairdressing.   more...

Community room revamp gives patients a boost

People recovering from mental health problems in the Oxford area have been given a boost, thanks to the refurbishment of their community room.   more...

Protesters say 'no war'

About 600 protesters packed Oxford Town Hall on February 5 to send the anti-war message 'Don't Attack Iraq' to Prime Minister Tony Blair.   more...

Firefighters find man dead in flat

A disabled man has died after a fire at his sheltered accommodation home in Oxford.   more...

Pianos fall victim to stormy drama

The set of a new production by an Oxfordshire drama school will feature chopped-up pianos inspired by the collapse of Brighton's West Pier.   more...

Traders demand facelift

Shopkeepers in Didcot are calling for major improvements to the town centre to try to stop shoppers travelling to more attractive towns.   more...

Leaflet helps bereaved

The Atomic Energy Authority in Harwell is helping a charity extend a bereavement support service.   more...

Hundreds to attend radio rally

Nearly 1,000 enthusiasts and their families will be at Didcot on February 9 for one of the largest amateur radio and computing rallies in the south of England.   more...

History goes online

Residents in Banbury and Henley will soon be able to bring centuries of history into their own homes.   more...

Woman denies cash charge

A Jamaican woman living in England told a court she did not know money she sent to Jamaica was profits from drug dealing.   more...

Pub noise leads to shorter hours

The function room at the Red Lion in Eynsham will close earlier on Friday and Saturday nights after complaints about noise.   more...

OUP cuts six jobs

Six jobs are to go at the educational publishing division of Oxford University Press following a strategic review.   more...

It's Prince Charming!

Prince Charles was full of surprises during his visit to the Mini plant in Cowley on February 5.   more...

Danger junction will be altered

A road junction where a woman died in an accident is to be improved to improve drivers' visibility.   more...

Cul-de-sac fight wins backing

Liberal Democrats have joined the campaign to stop a quiet cul-de-sac by retirement flats being turned into a through road in Bicester town centre.   more...

Biker gears up for tough ride in India

A motorcycle enthusiast is preparing for a trip of a lifetime -- to ride across India in just eight days for charities.   more...

Holiday home target reached

The family of a recovered cancer sufferer have reached their £13,000 target to provide a holiday home for people like them.   more...

Police station goes on beat

A mobile police station will visit five villages around Bicester next week.   more...

Drive to help re-open beds

Eighteen beds at Abingdon and Wantage hospitals are closed because of a shortage of nurses -- and now a recruitment campaign is to be launched.   more...

Laying down roots for the future

The Prince of Wales donned his Wellington boots to cross a muddy field to plant an oak tree at Hailey Community Wood.   more...

Firm has nose for business

An Oxfordshire dog training business has landed a contract to send sniffer dogs into a secondary school to search for drugs.   more...

Club for mothers

A group launched this week aims to provide more support for new mothers.   more...

Sergeants bare arms

Soldier Neil Thomas is going for another world record.   more...

Fitness instructors win battle with VAT man

Two fitness instructors who took on Customs & Excise have won a two-year tax battle.   more...

Store delay goes on

People in Wallingford will have to wait until at least April before finding out whether the long-awaited Waitrose development will go ahead in the town centre.   more...

Squatters stop council clearing away rubbish

Squatters are stopping council cleansing staff from clearing up rubbish at a boarded-up house in east Oxford.   more...

Residents alarmed by spate of vehicle crime

Headington has become a hotspot for motorbike thefts, with vehicles often later found dumped in nearby Barton, according to Oxford police.   more...

Parents campaign for 'superschool'

Primary school parents have formed a pressure group calling for a single-site 'superschool' for Wantage and Grove.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

U's trio still waiting

Oxford United have still to open contract talks with Steve Basham, David Oldfield and Bobby Ford - and boss Ian Atkins is getting anxious.   more...

Frilford see off Dark Blues

A strong finish in the singles enabled Frilford Heath to record an 11-7 victory in their annual match at home to Oxford University.   more...

Golf club results check

Results from around the county's golf clubs   more...

Horseman strikes as Forest march on

Autotype UTV League: Forest Hill's Division 1 survival hopes received a big boost as they won 4-1 at Buckland - their second successive victory.   more...

Ulas double secures place in semis

Sam Waters Cup: Murat Ulas grabbed a brace as Cowley Cosmos reached the semi-finals of the competition by toppling Morrells of Oxford League Premier League rivals and leaders Blackbird Sunday 3-1.   more...

Rovers stage great recovery

Morrells Oxford Sunday League: Cowley Rovers staged a brilliant recovery, battling back to beat Division 4 leaders The Chequers 4-2.   more...

Crown hopes Cornered!

Corner House handed Crown Stadhampton their heaviest defeat of the season and put a severe dent in their Oxford & District Bar Billiards League title hopes.   more...

Simmons the star

The Oxford & District Handicap Shield second round produced some great table tennis encounters, none more so than Witney's home clash with Forum G.   more...

Legion crash in Bulls' stampede

An under-strength Oxford Bulls team blew away London Legion 15-1 in their last challenge game before representing the city against Oxford University in the annual Town v Gown ice hockey match on February 16.   more...

Ryan's hat-trick sinks Navy

Oxford Univ 50, Royal Navy 8: Full back Ryan O'Mahoney, starting his first game for Oxford University, scored a quickfire hat-trick of tries before a frozen Iffley Road pitch brought a premature conclusion.   more...

  
Restrict search to 06 February 2003