An eyesore site that has sat derelict for years in Maidenhead town centre could be brought back to life if a planning committee gives the go-ahead.The old cinema building, in Bridge Avenue, has never actually shown a film and has been slated as a blot on the landscape by residents and nearby businesses.But plans for a 32,000 square feet office block have now been submitted to the Royal Borough, after the site was bought by an investment firm in 2005, which could see the dreary old building demolished and the area revitalised.Reaction from the town's users and local business was positive as they looked forward to the prospect of a life without the unsightly building in their midst, which has stood beside the equally decrepit York Stream for two decades.Mark Pollard, director of Tony Sheldon Travel, which has its office in Bridge Avenue, has been at the firm for nearly 20 years."I'm sat on my desk here everyday and all we see is the horrible state of this building," he said."There's things growing out the cracks in the wall and bushes overgrowing everywhere. It looks awful. Anything they can do will be welcome and these plans for offices seem fine and it could liven up the area and bring more business."<strong>See Thursday?s Advertiser for more on this story.</strong>

More than 350,000 people are expected to gather in central London to celebrate the new year.

Oxford University is to appeal against a decision stopping it from building a £29m book store for the Bodleian Library.

Press Release - 28/12/2007 The fight against plans to expand Heathrow Airport is gathering pace with Richmond Council calling on residents to air their views at two public meetings.

Frustrated commuters were hit by more train misery this morning following the breakdown of services at Hayes and Harlington.Rush hour services were halted for more than an hour causing problems for hundreds of Maidenhead passengers who struggled to get back to work following the Christmas break.  Dismayed passengers were offered little information as to the cause of the hold up with many choosing to return home as operator First Great Western (FGW) struggled to get services back on schedule. A spokesman for the company said: "There were problems this morning with broken down services at Hayes and Harlington.""Quite a few services were delayed by more than one hour."Disappointed shoppers looking to take advantage of the post Christmas high street sales were also affected, however, the problems are now easing with trains running just a few minutes behind schedule.This mornings delays follow the news that drivers and guards at First Great Western are considering strike action. A strike ballot is set to close on January 10 but FGW say they are working to resolve the issue.

FESTIVE cheer was brought to communities in Newham and  Tower Hamlets with grottos, pantos and competitions, courtesy of the Docklands Light Railway and Serco Docklands last week. There were gifts to young visitors to events and prizes for best cake bakin

The world's first skaters are likely to have taken to the ice about 4,000 years ago, Oxford researchers say.

A new 250-space long stay car park opens in an Oxfordshire town weeks ahead of schedule.