PREPARATORY work on a project to improve road safety and ease traffic congestion in Summertown is due to start on Monday.

In a bid to reduce accidents, a new pedestrian crossing is to be built near the Dew Drop Inn, in Banbury Road, and a 20mph speed limit will be introduced.

There will also be new road markings, bus shelters, benches and trees while footpaths will be repaved and more secure cycle parking and stands built.

While preparatory work to relocate pipes and cables in the area will only require pavements to be dug up, there is expected to be disruption when roadworks begin in June.

Ian Hudspeth, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for transport, said: "The people of Summertown have been fully consulted and they have approved of what we are proposing.

"It's inevitable that there will be disruption during the summer while work is under way.

"However, people only have to look at the benefits of our recent work at St Clement's, the Abingdon Road and the Green Road roundabout to see that short-term disruption can lead to real long-term gains."