An Oxford flyover is a potential "death trap"and the county council has left it in disrepair for a year, claims a resident.

Since last September, a 15ft stretch of footpath on the Marston flyover has had a temporary barrier in place where the permanent fencing was damaged in an accident.

But thieves have stolen the temporary barrier, and only a piece of mesh tied in place prevents pedestrians falling on to the A40.

David Brown, 63, of Jordan Hill, who walks over the flyover into Marston several times a day, claimed the temporary measures were unsafe.

He said: "Nothing's been done since September last year. If I heard a youngster had been killed, I would be horrified that I did not stand up about it."

Senior county engineer Charlie Benner said: "We discovered that a length of aluminium railing had been stolen. We are on the case and will have some new protection very soon."

But Mr Brown insisted that this explanation was not good enough. He said: "If they know it has been stolen, they could replace it with a wooden barrier or even block it off and get people to cross over to the other footpath.

"It has already been a year since it was first damaged."

Mary Clarkson, Labour city councillor for Marston, said: "I will go and have a look at it myself to see what it's like and take it up with the county council.

"We need to remember there are other road users as well as drivers and we need to make it safe. It's of massive urgency."

She also pointed out the clocks were going back next month, and the path was frequently used by cyclists.

Mrs Clarkson said: "That makes it more dangerous and it is a busy junction. It needs to be sorted out before it gets dark during the rush hour."