Speeding lorries have forced builders to stop work on a controversial traffic calming scheme in Bampton.

The project consists of concrete blocks projecting into the street.

These will form chicanes at each of the four roads leading into the west Oxfordshire village, meaning traffic has to pass through in single file.

Workmen from building contractor Isis Accord downed tools more than two weeks ago, when a lorry drove through and knocked over three cones.

Oxfordshire County Council, which is responsible for the project, said it would have to close the roads for several days to protect workmen while they finish the job.

Mark McArthur-Christie, who lives in Bampton and is safety spokesman for the Institute of Advanced Motorists, criticised the chicanes when work first started in April.

Mr McArthur-Christie cycles daily along Station Lane to West End, Witney, and believes the blocks are encouraging drivers to behave badly.

He said: "I ride the route at least twice a day and I've seen the levels of aggression go through the roof.

"The village has always had a problem with HGVs, and people have always driven too fast down there.

"But the build-outs have made it so much worse, because people are speeding in the middle of the village to make up for lost time, and then playing chicken at the entrance."

"I think the design and the placing is wrong, it's wrong from a safety point of view, and they're utterly inappropriate for a rural location.

"It's Neanderthal traffic calming."

Ralph Green, from the county council, said: "After several variations on a theme to reduce disruption to traffic due to the work, and to provide safe working conditions for the construction of the chicanes, we have reluctantly been forced to consider road closures."

He said contractors were drawing a programme so that they could complete the work, and people would be given advance warning of road closures.

He added: "We are keen to ensure each road closure will only be a matter of a few days."

The county council said it had consulted expert engineers before commissioning the project on behalf of Bampton Parish Council.