A WOMAN who was sexually abused as a child has hit out at Oxford judges for the "laughable" sentences they have given to paedophiles.

Jo Williams, of Thorney Leys, Witney, was responding to two cases in which child sex offenders walked free from Oxford Crown Court - one of whom was told to compensate his victim with money for a bicycle.

OXFORDSHIRE MPs claimed almost £30,000 in travel expenses during the last financial year - most of the money for car travel.

Figures released this week show for the first time how much MPs claim for car travel, car hire and taxis, rail, air, bicycle, or other transport.

OXFORDSHIRE County Council has agreed a four per cent increase in its share of the annual council tax bill.

Taxpayers will see the county council part of their bill rise by £41 a year for a band D household, from £1,008 to £1,049.

ANOTHER paedophile who sexually assaulted a young girl has walked free from an Oxford court - this time after a Judge said while the crime was disgusting, he had a lot of "good" in him.

Only 10 days ago, Judge Julian Hall freed pensioner Eric Cole, 71, of Bedford, who admitted sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl, then told him at Oxford Crown Court the compensation could buy his victim a new bike.

THE redevelopment of the historic Radcliffe Infirmary site by Oxford University is likely to provide good news for pedestrians and cyclists.

The former hospital buildings between Woodstock Road and Walton Street, Jericho, were officially handed over to Oxford University.

Some schools closed due to heating problems, while others decided to shut because it would be too difficult for pupils and staff to get to classes.

Bus and rail services were disrupted and driving conditions were difficult for motorists with fresh snow falling during the morning rush-hour.

POLICE have released CCTV footage of the moment two friends became victims of a so-called 'happy slapping' attack, the first of its kind in west Oxfordshire.

Police released the footage of the incident yesterday in the hope of identifying the two attackers, who punched and kicked their victims before filming one of them on a mobile phone as he cowered against a wall.

OXFORDSHIRE households may have to install water meters under Government proposals to tackle water shortages.

Ministers believe urgent action is required to address acute supply shortages in "water-stressed" areas like Oxfordshire.

It was "business as usual", according to a spokesperson for Witney-based Torex Retail. But the water coolers must have been buzzing following the news that its chief executive and chairman had quit after three homes were raided by police and the Serious Fraud Office. Both chief executive Neil Mitchell, of Leckford Road, Oxford, and chairman Chris Moore, of Hook Norton, stepped down from their roles a day after fraud officers and City of London police swooped on two homes in Oxfordshire and one in Warwickshire. Neither the SFO nor the company is saying whose homes were raided.

POLICE raided two Oxfordshire homes as a fraud investigation was launched into Oxfordshire software firm Torex.

Last week Torex, which supplies check-out software to retailers like Tesco and Woolworth's, shocked the City when it suspended trading in its shares "pending clarification" of its financial position.

Software giant Microsoft releases Windows Vista to consumers on 30 January.

The new version of the venerable Windows operating system has been more than five years in development and much hangs on its success.

Below is a brief tour of Vista's new looks and a guide to some of the key features in the software.

TORY Colin Adams has claimed victory in a by-election to replace Witney councillor Andrew Creery who disappeared last year.

Mr Adams, who lives on Smiths Estate, claimed the central Witney seat on West Oxfordshire District Council yesterday.