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

Stories for 14 February 2006

Oxfordshire Business

City gets Primark 'buzz'

Oxford's Westgate Centre 'buzzed' for the first time in almost a year this weekend as shoppers flocked from miles around to the new Primark store.   more...

Green fuel firm faces tax hike

A biofuel pioneer who champions the use of chip oil in cars and lorries says he has received a "slap in the face" from HM Revenue and Customs.   more...

County gets ready for annual festivities

Christmas lights across Oxfordshire will be switched on in the next couple of weeks, to bring festive cheer to shoppers and traders.   more...

Oxfordshire News

Drugs solution

I was most interested to read your timely article on the prevalence of cocaine in Oxford (Oxford Mail, February 9).   more...

We topped poll

The Insider fancies him or herself as an "amateur politico" (Oxford Mail, February 9).   more...

Carer tells of arrest ordeal

A nursery worker arrested on suspicion of poisoning the children in her care has spoken out about her ordeal in a bid to set the record straight with parents.   more...

Dozens rally round to offer help

Scores of builders, carpenters and volunteers have pledged to help save this year's Oxford Gang Show after a fire destroyed its stage sets.   more...

Two charged with murder

Two people were this morning charged with murdering an Oxford man.   more...

Election may be cancelled

District council elections due to be held next year could be cancelled if the Government decides to scrap the two-tier system of local government.   more...

Mum warns of blaze danger

Two little girls caused a mass evacuation at an Oxford tower block yesterday (February 13) after they started a blaze while playing with matches.   more...

Council shake-up could see jobs cut

Scores of jobs could be cut under a £27m efficiency drive at Oxfordshire County Council.   more...

Boy, nine, threatened with knife

A nine-year-old boy was threatened with a four-inch knife by two older children who tried to rob him as he waited for his parents outside a social club in Oxford.   more...

Drug dealers told to pay up

A drugs kingpin has been ordered to pay £31,000 in ill-gotten gains in less than a month or face an extra 14 months in prison.   more...

Tuesday, February 14: More double whammies

How pleasing to see our courts getting really tough on drug dealers.   more...

Pupils revel in fast lane

A system to fast-track high-flying pupils through their GCSEs early is among the ways Bicester Community College is boosting results.   more...

Backdoor move to penalise us

David Robertson, the county council's cabinet member for transport, repeats that old canard that "the proposal would only put Oxford in line with most other places in the county as regards charges" (Oxford Mail, February 2).   more...

Nurse facing murder trial

The jury in the case of a nurse accused of murdering two patients and wounding 16 was sworn in for the start of the trial this morning.   more...

£26m eagle has landed

An Oxford maritime archaeologist has helped recover a unique relic of Nazi Germany's Second World War fleet from its watery grave.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Football: We are United says U's boss

FIVE of Oxford United's key players have stepped forward in a dramatic show of solidarity with manager Brian Talbot.   more...

Blossom out for Banbury

WAYNE Blossom is suspended for Banbury United's Southern League Errea Cup quarter-final against Division 1 West side Bromsgrove Rovers at Spencer Stadium tonight (7.45).   more...

Rugby: Bulls make it ten in a row

SEAN Bannister inspired leaders Banbury to a ninth successive home win in Midlands 3 East South as they beat Stewarts & Lloyds 26-17.   more...

Rugby: Clevedon can't cope with rampant Quins

ANDY Henley and Jamie Cope both bagged hat-tricks as Oxford Harlequins thrashed Clevedon 62-15 at Horspath Road.   more...

Rugby: Campbell at the double

SCRUM half Gareth Campbell scored a try in each half as Witney ground out a 23-10 victory at Stow- on-the-Wold.   more...

Darts: Inspired Varney is a bobby dazzler!

A BRILLIANT victory by Ollie Varney over darts legend Bobby George capped Oxfordshire's resounding 27-12 victory over Suffolk in the Kaliber Inter-Counties League.   more...

Rugby: Burton boots Barking

MITCH Burton was the hero in Henley Hawks' 22-20 win at Barking.   more...

Motor Racing: Aguri F1 set to call up Sato

OXFORDSHIRE'S third Formula One team, Super Aguri F1, are expected to sign up Japanese ace Takuma Sato to drive for them this season.   more...

Rugby: Darke and Taylor run the show

CENTRES Chris Darke and Sam Taylor scored all the points as Henley Wanderers came from behind to win 17-13 at Keynsham.   more...