Summary

  • Updates on Wednesday 20 April 2016

  • News, sport, travel and weather updates resume at 08:00 on Thursday

  1. Weather: Sunny and warm afternoonpublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 20 April 2016

    BBC Weather

    The day will be dry across the county with long sunny spells. 

    Weather for Oxford, April 20

    It will feel pleasantly warm with a slight breeze, with highs of 14C (57F), and will stay dry into the evening.

    You can get more details on the BBC weather site.

  2. Lunchtime headlines: New images of Didcot power station recovery work releasedpublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 20 April 2016

    The top stories in Oxfordshire this lunchtime:

  3. Travel latest: Slow traffic around Cutteslowe roundaboutpublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 20 April 2016

    BBC Travel

    Despite a lane reopening this morning, there is still slow traffic on the A40 in both directions in Oxford at Cutteslowe Roundabout. 

    Congestion is stretching to Cassington, on the Northern Bypass almost to Marston, and on A44 Woodstock Road to Peartree Interchange.

    You can get the latest on the BBC Travel site.

  4. Didcot bodies search 'will take time'published at 11:55 British Summer Time 20 April 2016

    A 40m (131ft) pile of rubble has been cleared from the collapsed Didcot power station site but finding the three missing men will take time, police say.

    Read More
  5. Gun owners take aim at licence delayspublished at 11:39 British Summer Time 20 April 2016

    Adina Campbell
    BBC South Today

    Gun owners are calling for the government to deal with a backlog in processing firearms licences, saying some are having to wait nine months.

    Media caption,

    They say they're having to wait up to nine months for licences because of police delays

    The firearms and shotgun licences are dealt with by Thames Valley Police, but staff cutbacks has caused the delays.

  6. Oxford health trust brings in pay and display parking chargespublished at 11:33 British Summer Time 20 April 2016

    Pay and display parking charges are to be introduced for the first time at sites operated by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

    Pay and display

    The trust, which operates sites including the Warneford Hospital in Headington, says parking in and around its sites has become "increasingly problematic".

    Free parking will be available for 30 minutes, but a £1 charge will be in place for every hour after that, enforced by a car park management company who will issue penalty fines. 

    Quote Message

    Many of our estate locations are very old and not designed for the volume of traffic we are experiencing; therefore we have to take action to ensure we manage parking safely at our sites.

    Mike McEnaney, Director responsible for estates and facilities

  7. New image and video of Didcot power station work releasedpublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 20 April 2016

    Images released by the emergency services, external show more than 40 metres of twisted steel and rubble at the Didcot A power station has now been cleared

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    But the effort to clear the site and recover the bodies of three missing workers "will still take some time".

    In a statement released by Thames Valley Police, the agencies say the "absolute priority" is the recovery of the missing workmen.

    Up to 20,000 tonnes of material needs to be moved and work is "ongoing seven days a week, from dawn to dusk".

  8. 'Time running out' for Southern Health NHS trust, says MPpublished at 10:45

    A Hampshire MP who called the boss of Southern Health NHS trust to appear before a committee of MPs says "time is running out" for the trust's under-fire management.

    Southern Health NHS Trust

    Suella Fernandes, who leads on health issues for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Hampshire, said following the meeting last night that a debate in Parliament should take place once the Care Quality Commission (CQC) releases its report into the investigation of deaths that took place under Southern Health's care.

    Quote Message

    While I appreciate Katrina Percy’s willingness to answer our questions, I told her that I still have serious concerns about the failings in the trust’s governance which have now been highlighted by two investigations. The CQC’s warning notice is a serious matter, and time is running out for the trust to demonstrate that it has the right leadership to make the changes required.

  9. Oxford United hero relives Milk Cup glorypublished at 10:36

    Howard Bentham
    Radio Oxford presenter

    On the 30th anniversary of the U's win, Jeremy Charles came into Radio Oxford to talk about his Wembley goal.

    Media caption,

    On the 30th anniversary of the U's win, Jeremy Charles talks about his Wembley goal

  10. County 'devolution review' goes aheadpublished at 10:09 British Summer Time 20 April 2016

    An independent review looking into the options for a "devolution deal" for Oxfordshire is to go ahead, despite concerns from the county council.

    Read More
  11. get involved

    Get Involved: Your memories of Oxford Utd's Milk Cup winpublished at 09:51 British Summer Time 20 April 2016

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  12. Appleton: Dressing room looked like an A&E departmentpublished at 09:27 British Summer Time 20 April 2016

    Oxford United boss Michael Appleton has spoken of his half-time dressing room last night resembling a scene from Casualty.

    The U's drew 1-1 at Newport to cling on to an automatic promotion place in League Two, and Appleton believes his side can hold - despite the injuries and illnesses blighting his side.

    Oxford United vs Newport CountyImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
    Quote Message

    It's still in our own hands. If we can go into the Wycombe game in that position I think we'll get over the line. The amount of injuries and illnesses we have picked up over the last week, it was like an A&E in the dressing room at half time.

    Michael Appleton, Head coach, Oxford United

  13. Didcot power station collapse contributed to extra £500,000 fire and rescue costspublished at 09:14

    The collapse of part of the Didcot A power station contributed to extra “one-off costs” of about £500,000 for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue in February and March this year.

    Emergency service workers at the power station site in DidcotImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Emergency service workers at the power station site in Didcot

    The service says it was a “very early estimate of a busy period”, which included the collapse at Didcot A power station.

    Four men died in the collapse of the 10-strorey building on 23 February – three of the workers remain buried under the rubble.

    Quote Message

    There is no final figure for Didcot. The £500,000 figure is a very early estimate of a busy period for fire and rescue during February and March, including Didcot.

    Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue

  14. Oxford pupil's coded music wins space station competitionpublished at 09:00

    A piece of music composed by an Oxford teenager as part of an international computer coding competition will be heard by British astronaut Tim Peake on the International Space Station.

    Jamie Andrews, aged 14, is a pupil at Bartholomew School and entered a competition being run by Raspberry Pi and NASA to create music using Sonic-Pi.

    This coding platform allows people to learn to code by composing or performing music.

    His code was judged the best in the 14 to 16 age group by the group Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and British/French film composer Ilan Eshkeri.

    Quote Message

    Jamie is a budding programmer and we are delighted for him that he has won such a prestigious competition.

    Craig Thomas, Operational headteacher, Bartholomew School. Oxford

  15. Milk Cup memories: 'Overwhelming' feeling to step onto pitch, says Wembley hero Les Phillipspublished at 08:45

    BBC Radio Oxford

    One of the heroes of Oxford United's Wembley win in 1986, centre midfielder Les Phillips, has been speaking about his memories of the day.

    Jeremy Charles and Les Phillips (centre) celebrate with former U's owner Robert Maxwell after their victory in the Milk Cup semi-final against Aston Villa at the Manor GroundImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Jeremy Charles and Les Phillips (centre) celebrate with former U's owner Robert Maxwell after their victory in the Milk Cup semi-final against Aston Villa at the Manor Ground

    Quote Message

    We walked out an hour and half before and that was daunting... when we got out there the hairs on the back of your neck really stood up. From that day on we all knew that it would be the biggest game we would ever play in. It was overwhelming to walk out on to the pitch and the Oxford Utd fans were superb. Arguably it was the best day in the club's history, but I am holding hope out for the team now - they look very good and I hope they're on the way back up.

    Les Phillips

  16. Oxford United mark 30th anniversary of Milk Cup glorypublished at 08:38

    It's 30 years today since Oxford United won the biggest trophy in their history... the Milk Cup. 

    Oxford United take on QPR at Wembley in 1986Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Oxford United take on QPR at Wembley in 1986

    All U's fans will of course know their glorious side of the 1980s beat QPR 3-0 in the Wembley final.

    The club is opening a pop-up shop in Oxford today to mark the occasion - with the actual trophy on display.

    What are your memories of that sunny day in 1986? Send them in to us via email.