People taking a shortcut from Barton to Headington in Oxford are dicing with death by crossing a busy stretch of the A40.

Residents are concerned that it is only a matter of time before someone is killed walking over the Northern Bypass between Barton Village Road and Barton Lane.

They are calling for a fence, which has been ripped down, to be replaced with a sturdier structure. It is not clear who is responsible for the barrier.

Bridget Hope, of nearby Barton Road, said she had seen young children and mothers with buggies crossing the busy dual carriageway.

She said: "Our concern is since we have been living here, people have been killed crossing that road. One day there will be a horrible accident there. I can't bear it."

She said the fence needed to be higher so that people could not climb over it or pull it down.

Mrs Hope, who has been campaigning for safety measures for months, said the Eastern Bypass tragedy spurred her into action again.

Marshall Haynes, Josh Bartlett and Liam Hastings, all 13, were killed when the car in which they were travelling careered across the central reservation of the A4142 Eastern Bypass.

It collided with a car driven by student Howard Hillsdon, 21, from Yarnton, who also died. A crash barrier is to be installed at the scene, between the Headington roundabout and the junction with Horspath Driftway.

Dr Peter Lewis, also of Barton Road, said an underpass beneath the A40 had been built in the wrong place.

He said people had been killed crossing the road in the past, and added: "It is a worrying and dangerous place for children to be tempted to cross.

"Nothing seems to be done except for a flimsy fence. People need to put their heads together and determine a better solution."

Patrick Murphy, Liberal Democrat city councillor for Barton and Sandhills, has taken up the campaign on behalf of the residents.

He said: "I am worried someone will get killed. There used to be a big metal fence which was removed and replaced with a thin wire one.

"There is a sign on the other side of road saying 'footpath to Barton', which is an open invitation to cross the bypass."

Last July, Steven Becksey was found dead on the grass verge of the A40 Northern Bypass.

Police believe the father-of-four may have been hit by a van.

Paul Smith, of Oxfordshire County Council, said: "We will be looking into this issue to find out as soon as possible who is responsible for the fence."