Crime & Safety
Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue: Cub found ‘barely breathing’
The animal was discovered by the Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue team at the entrance to its den on Tuesday night, April 14.
The cub was found alone, exposed and unresponsive in a location not provided after wandering outside in a desperate search for her mother, the charity said.
The charity’s spokesman said: “She was covered in fly eggs, cold and barely breathing.
“She was clinging onto life with absolutely everything she had left in her.
“This can only mean one thing, she was searching for her mother out of pure desperation.”
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The team said they immediately got the cub some warmth and began helping her with oxygen in an effort to save her, after seeing the state of the animal.
They noted the cub was very frail and her body was beginning to shut down.
The spokesman added: “Time was running out for this little cub.”
While treating the first cub, the team spotted a second, equally weak cub.
“Another one appeared… staggering towards the entrance of the den.
“Out of sheer desperation, he surrendered himself to our team in order to get the help he needed.”
Fearing more cubs could be in danger, the team searched the area but soon discovered the body of the mother fox nearby.
She had been involved in a car accident. No other cubs were found in the den.
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The rescue team worked urgently to stabilise the two cubs in their care. During the journey back to the centre, the smallest cub began to show signs of life.
Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue said the cub gasped and opened her eyes.
“The feelings were simply overwhelming.”
The centre said these were the first signs of hope for this cub and added: “Remarkably, the other cub was also starting to become much more lively too.”
Both fox cubs are now recovering in intensive care at the centre, receiving round-the-clock support.
Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue said: “We remain hopeful that we managed to get to them just in time to give them a second chance.
The rescue team have said they will update with their story as the cubs progress with the team of volunteers here at the centre.
They also thanked the lady who found the cub and called them for help.
The charity is monitoring the site for any further signs of cubs but does not expect to find more.
Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue relies on public donations to support its work with sick and injured animals.
A study by the University of Bristol found that as many as 60 per cent of urban fox populations die by car accidents.
In this study it was revealed that the death rate of fox cubs in the UK is notably high, with some estimates suggesting 20 per cent of cubs die before about six weeks old.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has been asked to consider allowing Category B licence holders—those with a standard car licence—to drive motorhomes weighing up to 4,250kg.
This is because motorhome weight often exceeds the current 3,500kg limit but stays under 4,250kg, and the current rules limit travel options for many standard licence holders.
What is checked on your car during an MOT?
EU rule changes
The EU’s new directive extends this flexibility to include motorhomes—referred to as “motor caravans”—regardless of whether they are petrol, diesel, or zero emission.
Under the directive, EU member states can allow heavier motorhomes to be driven on a Category B licence, provided drivers complete at least seven hours of training, pass a relevant test, or both.
The training or test must cover specific safety topics outlined in the directive.
The UK Government extended these rules in June 2025, permitting all zero emission vehicles up to that weight to be driven on a standard licence.
Petition to change UK driving rules
A petition, signed by more than 11,000 people, said: “Current laws allow Category B car license holders to drive motorhomes up to 3,500kg.
“We feel current laws restrict the size and weight of motorhomes, and many motorhomes just over 3500kg are automatic, which may be helpful for people with disabilities.”
Department for Transport responds to driving petition
Responding to the petition, a Department for Transport spokesman said: “The DfT keeps driving licence rules under review.
“We have not yet assessed the potential benefits of allowing Category B licence holders to drive motorhomes weighing up to 4,250kg.
“Any future changes to driving licence law would be subject to public consultation and a full assessment of their impacts.”
The 46-year-old has been starring alongside her family on the reality TV show Keeping Up With the Kardashians since 2007.
With 20 seasons released, the programme, which also stars sisters Kim and Khloé, has been a global hit.
Last July, Ms Kardashian was spotted in the Cotswolds and Oxfordshire, taking a holiday in the UK.
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Uploading a string of 13 photographs on Instagram, she shared the snaps of her trip.
The reality TV star captioned the social media post: “Dreamy storybook fairytale enchantment.”
Among the various locations featured were Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire, as well as Estelle Manor near Witney.
A three-bedroom property, Stepping Stones in Bourton-on-the-Water, featured on the reality star’s Instagram Stories during her stay last year.
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Now, it has been given a significant upgrade, with a new kitchen, updated soft furnishings, and fresh furniture.
The work forms the second phase of a wider £100,000 investment on the site that began in 2025.
The first stage focused on the four neighbouring one-bedroom cottages, which were completely overhauled with new kitchens and bathrooms, as well as improved beds, sofas and other fixtures.
Stepping Stones still showcases original details such as exposed Cotswold stone and beams, but now combines them with a warmer, more contemporary interior aimed at families and small groups.
Cotswold Cottages has this week confirmed the completion of the refurbishment of Stepping Stones, its largest cottage on the site.
John Oxenham saw the widely shared photos of the bird of prey clutching the baked snack and knew immediately where they’d come from.
The 67-year-old explained that he often leaves food scraps in his and wife Samantha Frewin’s garden in South Newington, and recognised the kite that took them.
Having visited Mrs Frewin’s mother, June, at her home in Kent on Mother’s Day, they returned home with a tub of her homemade sausage rolls.
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Two days later, Mr Oxenham left some of the baked goods out in the garden for the birds.
Then, after arriving in Cornwall for a getaway the following day, the couple came across photos of the kite clutching a snack that looked ever-so-familiar.
Mr Oxenham, a retired commercial pilot, said: “I’m the culprit who put out the sausage rolls.
“We went down to see Sam’s mum in Kent for Mother’s Day, and she gave us a tub of sausage rolls.
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“I put some out for the birds, and that’s when the kite took the sausage roll.
“My wife showed me the pictures and said: ‘This story about the kite is going mad!’.
“You can see it was my mother-in-law’s – they’re pale in colour.”
Mrs Frewin, 47, said she first noticed the photo being shared on Instagram.
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“As soon as I saw the photo, I thought: ‘Oh no… That’s one of my mum’s sausage rolls’,” the retired HMRC worker said.
“Sam showed me the picture,” Mr Oxenham added.
“It was instantly recognisable. I said: ‘That’s our kite with your mum’s sausage roll’.
“I thought I would put the world right on where it came from.
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“I’m just glad he wasn’t photographed with some naan bread in its talons… The ravens love their curry!
“At least the red kite found a nice source of food… What would she rather have, a manky mouse or a nice sausage roll?”
Amateur photographer Mark Hopkins snapped the hungry bird of prey in his garden in Ruscote, in Banbury, when the giant bird soared overhead.
Mark, 57, a welder, said: “There are often kites flying over us, but I’ve never seen this before.
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“There was one huge red kite that banked up in front of me, and it was clearly holding something in its talons.
“I wasn’t sure what it was at first, but looking at the pictures on my camera, it was obvious it was a sausage roll.
“Whether it had snatched it out of someone’s hand or picked it up off the floor, I don’t know, but it did look fresh.
“It was a remarkable thing to see, and I’m just so happy I had my camera ready at the right time.”
There are an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 breeding pairs of red kites in the UK, with increasing numbers living in urban areas.
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