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

Stories for 18 January 2005

Oxfordshire Business

Firm unpicking bike lock fault

A FIRM which specialises in motorbike accessories has suffered a wave of criticism after it was revealed one of its locks can be picked with a pen.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Carry-on over insurance

Sir - I hope British survivors coming home from the tsunami disaster don't have the same holiday insurance company as I had.   more...

Something in return

Sir - Loath as I am to enter into a dispute with the usually sensible and wise Paul Lumley, Blair more powerful than Thatcher (Oxford Mail, January 11), I should perhaps remind him of the names Bernie Ecclestone and Rupert Murdoch.   more...

Three-year injustice

Sir - Three years ago, the United States started shipping detainees to prison camps at Guantanamo Bay. Many have been there ever since.   more...

Lab should be dropped

Sir - I am astounded to learn that Oxford University wishes to build a new biomedical research facility - more fruitless waste of creatures' lives, animal and human, and a waste of funds that could be diverted into existing methods of research which do not use an animal-based methodology.   more...

Smoking ban won't deter pub regulars

Three-quarters of people who took part in an Oxford Mail Internet poll would not stop going to their regular pub if it introduced a ban on smoking.   more...

Residents bid to put brakes on bus plan

Residents are up in arms about plans to divert buses down their narrow Cowley street while repairs are carried out in a nearby road.   more...

'Rescuer' jailed for killing friend

A man who stabbed his friend in a bid to stop the 22-year-old beating up his own girlfriend was convicted of manslaughter yesterday.   more...

£100,000 revamp boosts learning programme

College opens centre for autistic students Oxford's first centre for autistic young adults has officially opened in purpose-built premises after transferring from Thame.   more...

Trust takes next step in landscape project

A conservation trust is preparing to take the next step in creating an education centre after receiving planning permission.   more...

Police shake-up will not affect beat cops

Redundancies among civilian staff are expected as result of a shake-up to the police force in Oxfordshire -- but there will be no cut in the numbers of bobbies on the beat.   more...

Scouts in crisis appeal for help

Scouts, Cubs and Beavers need to raise £50,000 and attract up to six new leaders to secure their future in Didcot.   more...

January 18: Into the wilderness

THE defection of Robert Jackson from the Conservatives to Labour has inevitably drawn conflicting views.   more...

Labour cheers defector Jackson

ROBERT Jackson MP was given a rapturous reception by his new colleagues in the Labour Party.   more...

Pollution: Let's stop worrying

Sir - You report further 'pollution confusion' about Oxford's air quality (Oxford Mail, January 12).   more...

Charles hits the election trail

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy kickstarted his party's election campaign yesterday with a two-hour visit to Oxfordshire.   more...

It's your call to shop a yob

Residents in Oxford will be encouraged to shop a yob in confidence from next month, when an anonymous telephone crime line goes live.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Football: United eye Cominelli

OXFORD United's foreign legion is set to increase further this week with the signing of Argentine Lucas Cominelli.   more...

Football: Alsop takes legal advice over FA ban

Julian Alsop is taking legal advice over whether to appeal after the Football Association suspended him until the end of the season following the training-ground incident which led to him being sacked by Oxford United.   more...

Rugby: Great Grove put an end to Banbury run

Oxfordshire Cup: Grove shocked in-form Banbury with a decisive 31-12 quarter-final victory at Cane Lane on Sunday.   more...

Hockey: Smyth to the rescue as Rover extend run

South League: Rover Oxford extended their unbeaten run in the Middlesex, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Regional league to four games with a 3-3 draw at home to South Bucks.   more...

Darts: Super Jukes keeps Oxon on title track

Jon Jukes was the hero for Oxfordshire as his last-gasp win earned the Kaliber Inter-Counties League Division 4 leaders a 19-17 victory over second-placed Gwynedd at the Cowley Community Centre.   more...

Rugby: Henley's yellow peril

National League 1: Henley Hawks crashed 33-5 away to Exeter Chiefs after receiving three yellow cards during Saturday's fixture which was played in a sea of mud at the County Ground.   more...

Rugby: Bicester take positives

Southern Counties North: Henley Wanderers saw off Bicester 26-7 at Oxford Road, but there were plenty of plusses for the losers.   more...

Rugby: Didcot stunners shock Oxford

Oxfordshire Plate: Didcot produced a stunning peformance to send Oxford crashing out 27-17 in Sunday's quarter-final.   more...