18 January 2014 Last updated at 17:03

UKIP councillor blames storms and floods on gay marriage

Councillor David Silvester from Henley-on-Thames had defected from the Tories to UKIP

A UKIP councillor has blamed the recent storms and heavy floods across Britain on the Government's decision to legalise gay marriage.

David Silvester said the prime minister had acted "arrogantly against the Gospel".

In a letter to his local paper he said he had warned David Cameron the legislation would result in "disaster".

UKIP said Mr Silvester's views were "not the party's belief" but defended his right to state his opinions.

Divine retribution

“Start Quote

He is more than entitled to express independent thought despite whether or not other people may deem it standard or correct”

End Quote UKIP spokeswoman

Mr Silvester, from Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, defected from the Tories in protest at Mr Cameron's support for same-sex unions.

In the letter to the Henley Standard he wrote: "The scriptures make it abundantly clear that a Christian nation that abandons its faith and acts contrary to the Gospel (and in naked breach of a coronation oath) will be beset by natural disasters such as storms, disease, pestilence and war."

He added: "I wrote to David Cameron in April 2012 to warn him that disasters would accompany the passage of his same-sex marriage bill.

"But he went ahead despite a 600,000-signature petition by concerned Christians and more than half of his own parliamentary party saying that he should not do so."

He then went to on blame the prime minister for the bad weather:

"It is his fault that large swathes of the nation have been afflicted by storms and floods."

He went on to say that no man, however powerful "can mess with Almighty God with impunity and get away with it".

A UKIP spokeswoman said: "It is quite evident that this is not the party's belief but the councillor's own and he is more than entitled to express independent thought despite whether or not other people may deem it standard or correct."

Independent thought made the UK "a wonderful, proud, diverse and free country".

Henley's Tory MP John Howell, said: "I thought Mr Silvester's letter was not the sort of thing that he should have written in today's age.

"He really needs to consider his position."

BBC Oxford

City Link announces 2,356 job losses

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18:00: Happy new year

That's all from BBC Local Live today. We'll be back from 08:00 on Thursday.

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17:57: 'Passionate about services'

Reacting to being made an MBE in the New Year Honours, Katherine Powley said: "It is a real honour to be made a MBE and I am very proud.

"My parents, who both were teachers, brought me up on the idea of providing a service to the community and it is something that I am extremely passionate about.

"I love the variety of my job - whether it is mapping for the Olympic torch route or responding to an unexpected road closure - and like the rest of my team, I strive to go that extra mile in order to get things done."
17:52: Cloudy and chilly evening

Tonight, the cloud will continue to thicken and it will turn breezy, with some patchy light rain early on, mainly in the west. Less cold than recent nights, but perhaps still feeling quite chilly in the wind, especially over Dragon Hill.

Minimum temperature: 2C (36F). Check the forecast near you.
17:50: More on City Link job losses

The administrators of collapsed delivery firm City Link have announced 2,356 job losses including 23 in Oxfordshire.

The administrators, from Ernst & Young, said they had proposed an alternative structure to the consortium "that would be acceptable and common in these situations. The consortium, despite attempts to make them reconsider, declined to amend their original offer".

Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT union, said that he had been told of "a credible bid to take over some or all of the City Link trading operations".
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Power has been restored to about 70 homes in Bampton.
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What is your favourite word? Let me know via email, Facebook or Twitter.
17:26: Tonight's BBC South Today Briony Leyland BBC South

People from all walks of life across the South are celebrating today after being named in the New Year Honours list.

All have in common a dedication to their chosen field. Many have been singled out for their contribution to charitable work. I'll have more on this story on BBC South Today at 18:20 on BBC One.
17:10: City Link announces 2,356 job losses

The administrators of collapsed delivery firm City Link have announced 2,356 job losses, including 23 in Bicester, after a bid to buy the company failed.

The administrators, who took over City Link after it collapsed on Christmas Eve, said an unnamed consortium's offer was not acceptable.

The possible buyer "offered no money up front and significantly undervalued the assets to be acquired," they said. Coventry-based City Link employed 2,727 people and suffered years of losses.
16:57: 'Leave bins' council urges

West Oxfordshire District Council tweets: Crews will be out until 8pm to collect all missed collections from earlier this week. Pls leave bins out.
16:42: Where to go tonight? David Prever Drivetime presenter, BBC Radio Oxford

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16:27: Congestion on the A40

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16:08: Supporting bee keepers BBC Radio Oxford

The Oxford Honey company has been chatting with Susie Dent today talking about supporting local bee keepers.

If you missed it, you can listen again on the BBC iPlayer here.
15:39: Ebola case proves negative Oxford Times

A woman from Oxfordshire has tested negative for Ebola in Scotland, the NHS says.

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Dr Gordon Ganz, a GP and senior lecturer at Oxford University, went to Sierra Leone in the same group of volunteers as Pauline. He said: "We were all trained by the British Army, we all acquired the skills to put on the personal protection equipment and everyone here is extremely cautious when dealing with people with Ebola."
14:57: Your photos

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If you have a picture you'd like to share, you can pass it on via email, Facebook or Twitter.
14:38: Dozens suffer power cut Paul Jenner Newsreader, BBC Radio Oxford

About 70 homes lost electricity in the Bampton area after a power cut earlier.

Southern Electric Power Distribution says it was dealing with a fault with an overhead line.
14:14: One lane closed on M40

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13:57: Your photos

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If you have a picture you'd like to share, you can pass it on via email, Facebook or Twitter.
13:39: Firm raises £4k for conservation Witney Gazette

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Individual players and teams of any ability are welcome with no booking required. To take part simply come along with trainers, sports clothing and a drink and get involved.

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12:59: On lunchtime BBC South Today BBC South Today

People from all walks of life across the South are celebrating today after being named in the New Year Honours list. Not all are well known, but they do have in common a dedication to their chosen field, whether in science, medicine, sport, or community volunteering.

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12:44: Dry but breezy

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Maximum temperature: 6C (43F). Check the forecast near you.
12:21: Dozens arrested for drink-driving Oxford Times

Fifty-four people in Oxfordshire have been arrested for drink-driving this month.
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People called Eleanor are disproportionately likely to get into Oxford University? Find out more about that here.

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And apparently age renders you less certain as to whether a badger or a baboon would win in a fight. I'll keep pondering that one.
11:47: Share your highs and lows BBC Radio Oxford

Alex Lester sits in for Kat Orman today and he is asking you about new year's resolutions - Are they pointless or useful?

And as 2014 ends what were your high and low points? Let us know via email, Facebook or Twitter.
11:31: Fire officer becomes OBE Paul Jenner Newsreader, BBC Radio Oxford

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue's chief fire officer Dave Etheridge has become an OBE.

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10:46: Woman dies after crash

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The 36-year-old female pedestrian was injured on Saturday at about 21:00 in Caversham Road. She died in hospital yesterday.

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10:27: Armed thief steals cash

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A man entered the post office in Downside Road armed with a weapon, took cash from the till and made off on foot.

Nobody was injured. A second offender remained outside the shop during the incident. The thief is 5ft 8in and was wearing a black jacket with a light coloured hood and dark trousers.
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More on BBC Travel News for Oxfordshire.
09:47: More on honours list

Others in Oxfordshire honoured include Paul William Armishaw, from Uffington, who received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community.

Judith Alison Goodall was awarded a BEM for services to the community in Chilton, while John Barry Warburton received a BEM for services to culture in Oxfordshire through the Wallingford Corn Exchange.

John David Peter Lubbock, from Wallingford, was made an OBE for services to the Orchestra of St. John's and people with autism and learning difficulties in the UK.
09:27: Can you dig it? Bethan Bell Journalist, BBC News

I've been looking back at some of this years award winners that may have flown under your radar.

Jonny Yaxley, a cheery man from Didcot in Oxfordshire, holds the coveted title of Gravedigger of the Year, awarded by the Good Funeral guide.

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09:17: Oxford professors honoured

Neuroscientist Russell Foster, a professor at the University of Oxford who participated in the BBC's Day of the Body Clock, also is made a CBE.

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Professor Andrew Jonathan Bate, literary scholar and provost at Worcester College, University of Oxford, has been knighted for services to literary scholarship and higher education.
08:59: Fair founder honoured

The founder of Didcot's Christmas Street Fair is among those recognised in the New Year Honours.

Jeanette Howse, 59, from East Hanney, received a British Empire Medal for services to tourism. She started Didcot's Christmas Street Fair in 1993, as a Didcot Chamber of Commerce member, to promote the town.

She said: "I cried. You don't do this because of what you will get out of it. I had an award from Didcot Town Council but you know with the honours list there are many people out there who deserve it."
08:45: Give us your feedback

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08:33: Bianchi has rehabilitation therapy

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In November, Bianchi, 25, was flown to Nice from Japan, and began breathing unaided after coming out of a coma.
08:20: Pyrton Lane closed

Pyrton Lane in Watlington is closed near the B4009 Shirburn Road junction because of ice.

Motorists should also take care on other roads this morning. There's more on BBC Travel News for Oxfordshire.
08:10: Chilly morning with fog

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Maximum temperature: 6C (43F). Check the forecast near you.
08:00: Good morning Lloyd Watson BBC News

Good morning and welcome to BBC Local Live for Oxfordshire this Monday morning.

I'll be bringing you all the latest news, sport, travel and weather from across the county and I'll also be taking a look at who is included in this year's New Year Honours list.

You can get in touch throughout the day and tell us what you're up to via email, Facebook or Twitter.