Drivers rat-running through a village will have to slow down thanks to a new traffic calming scheme.

The main road through Bletchingdon, near Kidlington, is a favourite route for commuters from the Woodstock direction wanting to reach the hospitals in Headington, Oxford.

By going through Bletchingdon drivers can take advantage of the flyover across the busy A34 dual-carriageway to get to Headington. After the flyover drivers pick up minor roads through Islip -- where there are already speed humps -- Woodeaton and Elsfield to Marston and Headington.

To help pay for the traffic-calming scheme, grants of £5,000 each were made by both Cherwell district and Oxfordshire County Council.

Bletchingdon parish council chairman Chris Lane said: "We're very pleased with the grants. Bletchingdon is a rat-run in the rush hours, with an incredible amount of traffic coming through.

"We have had several surveys done on the traffic problem and the measures will go a long way to help slow down traffic."

Mr Lane said the work would be done in two phases.

Already a chicane to narrow the road has been installed on the approach to the village from the Woodstock direction.

There will also be speed cushions -- rather than controversial humps -- near Sands Close, outside the village hall and another at the crossroads.

A second chicane will be put down on the approach to the village from Islip.

Similar measures will also be installed at the entrance to the village in Oxford Road from the Hampton Poyle direction.

Mr Lane added: " We hope the speed cushion at the crossroads will help children to get to the primary school."