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Live Reporting

Sue Paz

All times stated are UK

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  1. Our news coverage through the day

    That's all from BBC Local Live for today.

    We'll be back from 08:00 on Thursday with the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates for Oxfordshire.

  2. Latest headlines: Oxfordshire vulnerable children safeguarding hub 'concerns'

    Sue Paz

    BBC News Online

    The top stories this evening in Oxfordshire:

  3. Weather: Clear with light winds

    Bee Tucker

    BBC Weather

    Skies will remain clear tonight and the wind will be light so temperatures will drop again.

    Bee Tucker with the BBC Weather chart for Oxforshire for Wednesday 4 May 2016

    This could lead to a touch of frost in one or two rural spots overnight. Lows of 4C (39F).

    For a full 10-day forecast visit the BBC Weather site.

  4. Sport headlines: U's keeper Buchel ready for crucial final match

    Marie Indge

    Radio Oxford Sport

    • Oxford United goalkeeper Benji Buchel says he'll be ready for whatever Wycombe have to offer in this Saturday's crucial final League 2 clash at the Kassam - a win will secure the U's promotion
    • Saturday's match is a sell-out so if you've not got a ticket you can hear exclusive full match commentary on BBC Radio Oxford from 14:00
  5. Tonight's TV: Abusive voicemail to mother of dead boy investigated

    South Today

    Coming up on BBC South Today at 18:30: 

    The full story on the investigation into an abusive answerphone message left for the mother of Connor Sparrowhawk.

    And a new online bike service has started in Oxford - thought to be the first of its kind in the UK. It allows people to hire a spare bike, with rates as low as £1 a day.

  6. Children's services hub to be revamped

    A hub that works to protect vulnerable children in Oxfordshire is to be redesigned, amid concerns about the time it takes to deal with cases. 

    The Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub, or MASH, brings together social workers, the police and health workers, and opened just 16 months ago. 

    An official inspection, due to be published next week, is expected to be critical of how the hub is currently run. 

    Oxfordshire County Council says it's now planning for workers in the community to deal with 'lower level concerns' to reduce the number of inquiries MASH deals with.

  7. Nearly 200 new homes set for Wolvercote Paper Mill

    The site of the former Wolvercote Paper Mill in Oxford has gone up for sale.

    Wolvercote Paper Mill site

    Oxford City Council has resolved to grant outline planning permission for up to 190 new homes at the 16-acre (six-hectare) site.

    Development will be limited to the site of the former mill, which closed in the late 1990s and is owned by Oxford University, with the woodland and open fields earmarked to provide public amenity land.

  8. Mother's 'shock' over alleged abusive Southern Health voicemail

    The mother of an 18-year-old who died while in the care of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust has described her "shock" after allegedly receiving an abusive call from a woman claiming to be a staff member at the mental health care provider.

    Sara Ryan

    Thames Valley Police and the trust are now investigating the malicious call to Sara Ryan, whose son Connor Sparrowhawk drowned in a bath at one of the trust's units in Headington.

    She said the call had left her feeling "sick, upset and angry".

    "Nobody should have to listen to a call like that, nobody should get a call like that," she added.

  9. Bernie Sanders 'will continue fight to be US president candidate'

    Bernie Sanders will continue to fight to be the Democratic candidate for US president, according to his Oxford-based brother.

    Bernie Sanders
    Image caption: Bernie Sanders

    He defeated Hillary Clinton in Indiana but trails her in the full race for the nomination.

    However, his brother Larry Sanders says he will "stick at it to the end". 

    Quote Message: The issues that he's standing up for - creating an NHS for America, for instance - are very big issues. The fact that he can get them out there and make people aware of what could be done... that's his goal and that's why he'll stick at it to the end. from Larry Sanders
    Larry Sanders
  10. Komodo dragon top of the reptile pops

    Scientists from Oxford University and Tel Aviv University have ranked the world’s most "popular" reptiles.

    Komodo dragon
    Image caption: The Komodo dragon was the most searched-for reptile on the English-language version of Wikipedia in 2014

    Using data from Wikipedia, the team – comprising zoologists, geographers and computer scientists – found species such as the Komodo dragon, saltwater crocodile and king cobra were of greatest interest to website users.

    Top 10 reptiles accessed on the English-language version of Wikipedia in 2014:

    1. Komodo dragon
    2. Black mamba
    3. Saltwater crocodile
    4. King cobra
    5. Gila monster
    6. Cottonmouth (viper)
    7. American alligator
    8. Leatherback sea turtle
    9. Nile crocodile
    10. Boa constrictor
  11. Winnie the Pooh birthday cards to mark 95th anniversary

    Organisers of the World Poohsticks Championships in Oxford are asking children to take a birthday card to the June event to mark 95 years since Christopher Robin’s mother purchased the now famous Winnie the Pooh toy bear.

    The original Winnie the Pooh bear bought from Harrods in London
    Image caption: The original Winnie the Pooh bear bought from Harrods in London

    Inspired by AA Milne's classic Winnie the Pooh books, the world-famous event involves racing sticks under a bridge.

    This year it will be held on 5 June and all donated birthday cards will be sent to the New York Public Library where the cuddly bear is now exhibited, along with Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga, and Tigger.

  12. Latest headlines: Rolling Stones' founder members reunite for Henley Festival

    Sue Paz

    BBC News Online

    This afternoon's top stories in Oxfordshire:

  13. Police investigating claims of malicious call to mother of Connor Sparrowhawk

    Police are investigating claims that a malicious call was made by a woman claiming to be a staff member at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust to a mother whose son died in one of its units.

    Connor Sparrowhawk
    Image caption: Connor Sparrowhawk

    The woman allegedly phoned Sara Ryan, whose son Connor Sparrowhawk drowned in a bath at one of its units in Headington, and called her a "vindictive cow" on the day the Care Quality Commission issued a report criticising the trust.  

    Quote Message: As a result of a pre-planned meeting with Dr Ryan, Thames Valley Police was made aware of a malicious telephone message made to her on 29 April. This has now been recorded as a report of a malicious communication and is currently under investigation. from Thames Valley Police spokeswoman
    Thames Valley Police spokeswoman
  14. Travel latest: Lane closure on A34 in Didcot

    BBC Travel

    • One lane closed and traffic is slow on the A34 northbound in Didcot at Milton Interchange, because of a broken-down lorry
    • There are also delays on A4074 Henley Road in Shillingford at the A329 New Road junction, due to roadworks

    For all the latest on the county's roads visit the BBC Travel site.

  15. Cheetah numbers 'lower than previously thought'

    Current estimates of the number of cheetahs in the wild are 'guesswork', according to the authors of a new study.

    A cheetah

    A team of scientists from University of Oxford, Kenya Wildlife Trust’s Mara Cheetah Project and the Indian Statistical Institute found the population in the cheetah-stronghold of Maasai Mara, Kenya, is lower than previously thought.   

    In the early 1900s it was believed there were about 100,000 cheetahs worldwide.

    The most recent estimate, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, puts the figure at 6,600.

    However, the scientists believe this number is a "best guess", given the difficulty of counting the animals accurately.

  16. Appeal after 'upsetting and unsettling' burglaries

    Police are appealing for information after a series of "upsetting and unsettling" burglaries in South Oxfordshire.  

    Officers are currently linking two burglaries and one attempted burglary which took place between 22:15 and 23:15 on Sunday.

    They happened at homes on Wantage Road in Wallingford, The Green in Middle Assendon and Couching Street, Watlington.

    Quote Message: Burglaries are often upsetting for the victims and unsettling for neighbours and the local community. We’re supporting these victims and would like to reassure the public, particularly the elderly living on their own and their families and friends, that we are here to help. from Det Sgt Francesca Jarvis Thames Valley Police
    Det Sgt Francesca JarvisThames Valley Police