Villagers banned from parking cars in a field they used for decades say the move could lead to accidents on the road outside their homes.

South Oxfordshire District Council has told them to keep their cars off the playing field next to their homes in Cuxham, near Watlington, and has installed gates to keep vehicles out.

Moya Kimber, of Mill View, said: "We've parked there without any trouble for donkey's years.

"There has never been an accident, no-one has been hurt and it has been a safe place to park. Now we're being forced to park on a very busy and narrow road through the village.

"It's a recipe for disaster, an accident waiting to happen."

Mrs Kimber said the narrow road through the village was unlit and regularly used by buses and car transporters.

Her family had two cars, and most of the households in Mill View had at least one.

Brendon Walsh, the district council's head of economic development, said: "This was done for safety reasons -- the field the residents used is a playing field and children's play area.

"The fact there have been no accidents yet does not really matter -- children and cars do not mix.

"We have to put the children's safety first."

He said officers were holding talks with Soha housing, which owns the Mill View houses.

Mr Walsh said it was possible that a small piece of waste land near the houses could be converted into a car park.

But he said no decision had yet been made.