Oxfordshire Live: Boy op success; llamas on the loose

The University of Oxford has announced that Prof Sarah Whatmore will be its new Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), and will take up the post in January.   

 "There is a shared commitment to making [opportunities at Oxford] accessible to talented and aspiring undergraduate and graduate students from every background in the UK and worldwide," she said, following her appointment.  

University of OxfordCopyright: University of Oxford

Prof Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor at the institution, commended her "truly impressive record of achievement in research, in teaching, and in contributions to the Social Sciences Division at Oxford".

She added: "The depth and range of her experience and her vision for the role made her the clear choice of the appointments panel."

There's slow traffic on the A361 (South Bar Street) in both directions in Banbury at Banbury Cross.

Flood prevention work between Oxford and Didcot Parkway will take place between 30 July and 14 August, Great Western Railway has said.

The work will raise the height of tracks, with buses replacing train services.

Oxford station manager Richard Fry said: "We’re encouraging people to plan their journeys ahead of time through National Rail Enquiries to make sure they pick the route that is best for them.

"The improvements being made will bring Brunel’s railway into the 21st century providing a more resilient infrastructure and paving the way for the new electric trains."

Firefighters were able to locate three people trapped in a car following a collision after they realised they had crashed near a famous landmark. 

It happened at 16:30 BST on Wednesday near Oxfordshire's Rollright Stones. 

Oxfordshire Fire and RescueCopyright: Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue

Incident commander Chris Wilson said the victims were "dazed, disoriented, the address was vague... crews couldn't establish their whereabouts". 

But when they realised their proximity to the ancient stone circle "crews knew exactly where to go". 

Presenter Mark Forrest is looking for suggestions for songs to play that reflect our llamas on the loose story.

Presumably Llama Chameleon won't count.

Chiltern Railways, the operator that runs services from London Marylebone to Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands, is 20 years old today.

The company, which recently opened Oxford Parkway station as part of a new £130m line, began at the start of privatisation in 1996.

Managing director Dave Penney said he felt "proud to be at the helm" for the "historic milestone". 

Smoke shrouded a picturesque countryside field this morning and sparked fears from drivers that a wildfire was building.  

As usual there's slow traffic on the A40 in both directions in Oxford at the Cutteslowe Roundabout in the roadworks area. 

There's also congestion on the A44 Woodstock Road to the Peartree Interchange and to Marston.

A police bomb disposal team has carried out controlled explosions in the village of Checkendon, near Henley-on-Thames, after reports of suspicious items in the area.

They were located in woodland off Exlade Street yesterday.

GoogleCopyright: Google

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "Exlade Street between the Highwayman pub and the slip road to the A4074 is currently closed while a cordon is in place in the area, and is likely to remain closed for some time while enquiries continue."

Police said the incident was not being treated as terrorism-related.

Paediatric surgeon Hugh Grant said helping Ethan Suglo, the Ghanaian boy with Eexomphalos, had been "very fulfilling" and "very rewarding".  

Eexomphalos can prove fatal and doctors in Ghana and Nigeria were unable to help, although it is regularly treated in the UK.

Ethan's dad Charles said: "I was amazed to see what has happened… each and every day we see much progress about his health.

"Ethan is happy, playing, chatting, eating, drinking, so life is back for him. It was a great relief. We cannot express the joy.

Earth TrustCopyright: Earth Trust

  The animals made their bid for freedom from Home Farm in Long Wittenham.  

Llamas on loose 'peering into windows'

Patches, Star and Tri are just checking their reflections, their owner says.

Read more

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Oxford are expecting to have a capacity crowd when they face neighbours Swindon Town in League One on 10 September..

Oxford owner confident on fourth stand

Oxford United chairman Darryl Eales is confident a temporary fourth stand will soon be in place at the Kassam Stadium.

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Have you seen these llamas? The trio have been at large for days after escaping from a farm in Long Wittingham? Let us know and send us your pictures via email, Facebook or Twitter.

Chiltern Railways which operates trains across the West Midlands is celebrating its 20th anniversary.  

In the last two decades, the company has invested more than £600m in the network with more than 6m passengers travelling a year.

BBCCopyright: BBC

BBCCopyright: BBC

Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet voted to close 26 of 44 centres in a bid to save £6m in February.  

Children's centres U-turn 'too late'

It could be too late to reverse plans to close the majority of Oxfordshire's children's centres, a judicial review hears.

Read more

Residents of an Oxfordshire village are being warned to be on high alert after three female llamas escaped a menagerie in Long Wittenham, near Didcot. 

The animals escaped from their enclosure through an insecure gate at Lower Farm on the outskirts of the village three days ago.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Since then they have been wandering around back lanes in the village near fields for the last three days. 

They have also strayed onto the residential areas of Saxons Heath and onto the main road from Didcot to Clifton Hampden.

Their owner is warning they are not aggressive and are not a threat.