Stories for 20 February 2004

Oxfordshire Business

Air firm gets Dettori cash

An Oxfordshire aviation company has won more than £300,000 in damages after a plane it leased to a racing stable crashed while top jockey Frankie Dettori was on board.   more...

Oxfordshire News

'Protected' tree cut down by developer

A mature tree protected by law to stop it being damaged during the construction of flats in north Oxford has been cut down -- following a city council "oversight".   more...

OAP threatened with pole

An 82-year-old former secret service investigator was threatened with a wooden pole by three men who smashed through the door of his Oxford home.   more...

Review adds £8m to council pay bills

A job evaluation exercise, which will add an estimated £8m to Oxfordshire County Council's pay bill, is nearing completion.   more...

Support for anti-GM bid

A leading Oxfordshire farmer is backing the anti-GM crops stance taken by the county council.   more...

Robbed at knifepoint

A woman's handbag was stolen after she was threatened with a knife.   more...

Power cut hits firms and homes

A power cut on February 20 left hundreds of homes and businesses in west Oxford without electricity.   more...

Cancer patient plans marathon

A woman is training to take part in the London Marathon less than a year after fighting breast cancer.   more...

Doctor falls victim to card fraudsters

Fraudsters conned a doctor into giving credit card details over the phone after his wallet had been stolen in a burglary.   more...

Residents want better car parking

Proposed parking zones in an Oxford suburb must be more flexible if they are to fulfil their purpose of protecting residents, householders have told transport officials.   more...

Susan's winning way with words

Scrabble has been a favourite hobby of Susan Paton since she was a six-year-old girl.   more...

Service for organ families

Clergymen hope a memorial service planned for bereaved relatives affected by the organ retention scandal will help bring the emotion-charged time to an end.   more...

'Eyesore' set for facelift

A rubbish tip described as an "eyesore" by its owner is to be cleaned up and used for horses.   more...

City gives royal hello

The Queen brought a stunning dash of colour to Oxford as she arrived at the city's station today to begin her day's visit to Oxfordshire.   more...

Volunteer punched while chasing thief

A Charity volunteer was viciously attacked in a busy Oxford street after chasing a shoplifter.   more...

Oxfordshire Sport

Football: United loan block

Oxford United won't allow any more players to go out on loan as they concentrate on trying to secure automatic promotion.   more...

Speedway: Silver Machine snap up Craig

Oxford Silver Machine promoter Nigel Wagstaff has taken a break from his first-team squad plans to announce the signing of up and coming Conference League rider Craig Branney.   more...

Fixtures: All the week's sporting fixtures

FOOTBALL   more...

Football: Wounded needed in Didcot's title drive

Didcot Town manager Pete Foley reckons the return to full fitness of some of his long-term injury victims will prove the key as they enter the championship run-in in the Premier Division.   more...

Football: Sinnott hails return of City favourite Lee

Oxford City have received a massive boost after midfielder Justin Lee re-joined the club from Banbury United, less than a month after he left Court Place Farm.   more...

Badminton: Julie is back to spark county

Former England international star Julie Bradbury returned to the Oxfordshire side to inspire them to a handsome 12-3 win at home to Sussex 2nd in Division 1C of the Inter-County Champion- ships.   more...

Rugby: Harlequins hope to take route 66 again

Oxford Harlequins hope to take another step towards securing their South West 1 status when they host Cheltenham tomorrow.   more...

Cricket: Lee is wizard of Oz

South Oxfordshire Amateurs brought a mixed first week of their tour of Australia to a successful conclusion with a five-wicket victory over The Lord's Taverners at Centennial Park, Sydney.   more...