Safety campaigners were celebrating today after a new crossing was unveiled on the busy Oxford road where a teenager was knocked down three years ago, writes Emma Henry.

The 20,000 toucan crossing, for pedestrians and cyclists, was officially unveiled at Folly Bridge, in Abingdon Road.

Its existence is a personal victory for ward county councillor Shereen Karmali, who won the 1997 local elections promising to improve safety on the road. Cllr Karmali said: "This crossing will be a huge benefit to local people, tourists and walkers along the river footpath. It shows what can be done when the councils work together.

"This was one of the things I was first elected on in May 1997 and I'm delighted we finally got it." Cllr Karmali said she became involved in the campaign after many parents of children attending Isis Middle School told of their worries that pupils as young as nine had to cross the Abingdon Road to get their bus. At that time there was no crossing between Speedwell Street and Newton Road.

This worry was magnified after Isis Middle School pupil Clare Spray, of Sunningwell Road, suffered leg injuries after being hit by a taxi at Folly Bridge in July 1997. The crossing was installed by the county council using developer-funding from the new Hertford College graduate hall of residence at Folly Bridge. The city council obtained its cash through planning powers.