Crime & Safety
Sainsbury’s issues statement to UK drivers on fuel shortages
Within the past week, shadow transport secretary Richard Holden criticised Labour’s “energy failure” amid growing fears of fuel shortages due to the Iran war.
Mr Holden said: “Labour’s energy failure is wrecking the Easter getaway before families have even packed their bags, grounding holidays and sending air fares into the skies.
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“As conflict in the Middle East drives jet fuel prices higher, airlines will pass those costs straight on to British families already being hammered by Labour’s hikes to air passenger duty and airport business rates.
“This is the direct consequence of Labour’s net zero obsession, destroying our energy security with real and tangible consequences for people up and down the country.
“Britain is left exposed, families are left paying, and Labour sit on their hands as the dream of a family holiday vanish.”
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This newspaper has approached several supermarket brands this week to see how Oxfordshire stores’ petrol stations have been affected.
Sainsbury’s issued a comment, which referred to the stores across the UK as a whole, informing drivers that sites would be resupplied if shortages occurred.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: “For background, we are actively monitoring stock levels in all locations and continuing to resupply sites where needed.
Tesco and Asda were both also approached for comment but are yet to respond.
Crime & Safety
Jeremy Clarkson to join May and Hammond after U-turn
The star of Clarkson’s Farm, filmed in Oxfordshire, posted a photograph of the Øresund Bridge between Sweden and Denmark on Instagram in April 2024.
Mr Clarkson added the caption “I feel a green Porsche coming on”, which amused fans, given how against Porsche he has been in the past.
The 63-year-old even joked in the past that it may be because fellow Grand Tour presenters and friends James May and Richard Hammond own one.
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In 2010, Mr Clarkson said: “As you may know, I have always loved the Porsche 911, in much the same way that I have always loved Peter Mandelson, mouth ulcers, Greece, marzipan, caravanning holidays, the smoking laws, British Telecom, pointlessly complicated gadgets, tea before four, Piers Morgan, sweet white wine, ramblers, Liberal Democrats, beards, the Boeing 777, global warming scientists, average speed cameras and, I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned this before, the feel of a cow.
“In other words, I have always rather disliked the 911.
“Jokingly, and mainly to make them go away, I always tell fans of the breed that my dislike is based principally on the fact that James May and Richard Hammond both have one.”
Fans were left in disbelief at the caption, with many pointing out Mr Clarkson’s previous disdain for Porsche cars.
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“There was a time when you would rather eat May’s underpants than drive a Porsche, how times have changed,” said one Instagram user.
The caption was likely in jest as Mr Clarkson added in 2019 that even bright green paint was not enough to make him buy a Porsche despite “adoring” the colour.
He responded to the dismayed fan and said: “Not sure you got the reference.”
Yet the former Top Gear presenter does have some liking for Porsche due to a heartbreaking personal story.
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During the Patagonia Special in the show’s 22nd season, Mr Clarkson recounted the story of his father’s passing and his respect for the 928 model.
“I know Hammond and May think my 928 Porsche is a bit dull, but for one very good reason, it isn’t dull to me,” he said in the episode.
“See, back in 1994, I was living in London, and I got a call one evening from my mum to say that my dad was desperately ill in a hospital in Sheffield, and I needed to get there as quickly as possible.”
“And I’d just taken the chicken out of the oven, and I thought, ‘Well, I’ll take that for my mum because she won’t have eaten.’ I ran outside, and I had a 928 on test that week.”
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“When I arrived in Sheffield, the chicken was still warm, and my dad was still alive. In fact, he died half an hour later.
“And the truth is, if I hadn’t been driving a car which could sit quite happily at 170 miles an hour, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to say goodbye to my dad.”
“So as far as I’m concerned, the 928 is alright.”
Crime & Safety
BBC broadcaster leaving radio after 10 years on air
Sophie Law, a BBC Radio Oxford host, broke down in tears when she announced she was leaving the station earlier this week.
While she has been at the station for a decade, she has been the face of the station’s breakfast station for the last three years.
Sophie Law is leaving BBC Radio Oxford (Image: BBC)
During a tearful last radio broadcast, she said: “At the end of this week I’m going to leave this show and it’s for the best reasons.”
However this won’t be the last time Oxfordshire residents will hear Ms Law’s voice as she is joining the presenting team at BBC South Today on the 6.30pm weekday show.
Sophie Law is leaving BBC Radio Oxford (Image: BBC)
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Ms Law said she is “excited and thrilled”.
She added: “I’m going to be on BBC One across the south and I’m really thrilled about that but I am so, so sad about leaving this show.
“[But] it is the opportunity of a lifetime and I know that if I’d turned it down, I would have spent the rest of my life and career wondering what if.”
She said the decision has been “extremely difficult and emotional”.
She said: “I know that you all keep listening and I hope that you will still invite me into your home, albeit at the other end of the day.”
Crime & Safety
Oxfordshire car boot sale cancelled ‘until further notice’
Oxfordshire Bootsale and Events Company said its Burcot sale just off the Berinsfield Roundabout will not go ahead on the first day of each weekend.
Organisers said on social media that the reasons are down to a “lack of support at present and huge expenses and people moaning [that] it’s too small”.
They added: “Sadly they forget Abingdon and Witney were that small and had to grow. Our policy has now to be use it or lose it.”
READ MORE: Russell Brand ‘sells Oxfordshire pub’ ahead of rape trial
However, officials confirmed the event would still go ahead each Sunday at the same location, just off the A415.
Abingdon and Witney car boot sales will continue to go ahead as planned.
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