The Four Shires Show and beer, wine and cider festival has been set up and the drinks are cooling! Great tasting brews from Hook Norton, The North Cotswold and Cotswold brewery and Hogans Cider are chilled and ready for consumption. S.H.Jones are supplying the wines and everything is ready to go. The Town hall will be open both Saturday and Sunday from 10.00 - 4.00 - get down there and taste a local beer!

Cherwell District Council’s car parking season tickets are now available to apply for online.
anyone living or working in the district who needs to park their car regularly for long periods could make a considerable saving if they buy one.
They are usable in all of the council’s long-stay car parks in the town for which they were bought and are available for a month, quarter or year.
Councillor Nigel Morris, Cherwell’s portfolio holder for community safety, street scene and rural services, said: "Being able to apply online means people no longer have to post their applications or queue in one of our offices.
“The season ticket fixes directly to the windscreen so there is no chance of it not being on display. It also means people don't have to stand in a queue at a ticket machine or have the right money to pay for the time they require. And best of all for those who park in the district every day, if you average out the cost of the season ticket it represents a significant saving."
The tickets are available for either Monday to Friday or seven days a week offering flexibility for those with different work patterns.
For example anyone in Banbury parking 227 full weekdays a year - 365 minus weekends, 25 days annual leave and eight bank and public holidays - would pay £681 at £3 per day.
If they were to buy the annual Monday to Friday season ticket priced £488 they could save themselves as much as £193 for the year.
Using a similar illustration for Bicester, drivers could save themselves up to £161.50 with an annual Monday to Friday ticket priced £406.
Although online application is a new addition, more traditional methods remain available for anyone without computer access. To apply online visit www.cherwell.gov.uk/payparking or for further information email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 01295 221535.

No Strings Badminton is a council initiative aimed at getting people involved in the sport.
The sessions, backed by the sport's governing body, Badminton England, provide a relaxed and flexible playing opportunity for anyone, 16 or over, who would enjoy playing badminton regularly, but who doesn't want to commit to joining a club or who can't always find the right partner to play against.

There are two sessions;
Kidlington and Gosford Leisure Centre, every Thursday, 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Spiceball Leisure Centre, every Thursday 4.30pm to 5.30pm.

The sessions cost £2.50 each and rackets will be provided for the first couple of weeks. The initiative has been paid for by the council's successful bid for Sport Unlimited funding from Sport England.

Cherwell District Council's portfolio holder for environment, recreation and health, Cllr George Reynolds, said: "If you haven't tried badminton before, this is your chance. Bring along your friends and enjoy playing the game in an informal atmosphere under the watchful eye of a qualified coordinator. It's great for all round fitness, but above all - it's fun".

For more information contact Kidlington and Gosford Leisure Centre on 01865 376368 or Spiceball Leisure Centre on 01295 257522.

The pedigree Ironstone Farm Limousin herd is making an appearance at the Four Shires Show on August 22nd. The herd - famed for its quality breeding stock has been established in Bloxham since 1977 although it has recently come to prominence under the management of John Wilson. Look out for the cattle, they will be penned in Cornhill, where John and his team will be happy to chat about the prize winners.

Six hundred vintage motorcycles converged on the Heritage Motor Centre last month for the nostalgic Vintage Motor Cycle Club Banbury Run.  The event is the 62nd Banbury Run and the largest gathering of motorcycles manufactured before 1931 in the world.

The Banbury Run is aimed at those who enjoy the thrill of riding with other Vintage, Veteran & Pioneer bikes. The Run operates over three different routes which all converge back at the Heritage Motor Centre. This year the Run will feature new routes and checkpoints to challenge the riders.

Visitors can enjoy wandering around Club and Trade Stands as well as the famous Banbury Run autojumble which is one of the best sources of Veteran & Vintage motorcycle spares.

Emma Rawlinson, Event Executive for the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We’re delighted we hosted the 62nd Banbury Run in conjunction with the Vintage Motor Cycle Club. The Run is a fantastic event enabling visitors to watch hundreds of vintage motorcycles cruise the roads of Warwickshire and Oxfordshire. It really is a spectacular sight to see!”

Advance tickets costs £5 or £6 on the day and £25 for an advance family ticket or £30 on the day. FREE museum entry is offered to entrants and spectators. Camping is available for the evenings of Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 June. Prices for the two nights are £13 in advance or £18 on the day. Advance tickets or camping can be purchased by phoning the new ticket hotline on 01926 287728 Monday – Friday from 9:30am – 5pm.  

The VMCC Banbury Run is just one of many exciting and unique motoring events held at The Heritage Motor Centre in 2010. To find out more information please visit the website at www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

The largest Banbury Cake ever made can be seen at the Four Shires Show - to be held in Banbury Market Place on Sunday August 22nd. The cake - made by local bakers Palace Cuisine will be just one of many attractions at the show which will feature food, wine, beer and entertainment from around Banburyshire. The show, which is free, is being held in conjunction with Banbury Town Council who will be holding their famous flower and produce show in a marquee opposite Cornhill at the end of Parsons Street in the town.