MORE calls have been made for action over a notorious stretch of road which has claimed ten lives in six years.

A man died and another was seriously injured when a car hit a tree alongside the A4260 south of Deddington on Friday afternoon.

The accident was less than a mile from where Dr Margaret Davidson, 26, was killed when a speeding teenager crashed head-on into her car four months ago.

Yesterday Paul O'Sullivan who represents Deddington on Cherwell District Council made a call for more signs to slow motorists down and cut the deaths.

But the area's county councillor, Ray Jelf, the cabinet member for community safety, said: "I just don't know what can be done with ordinary road safety measures to make it safer."

Both agreed they regularly see appalling driving on that stretch of road.

Banbury MP Tony Baldry has already called for the police and county council to get together and see whether further measures can be taken to reduce the fatalities.

Mr O'Sullivan said: "Something simply must be done - we cannot keep on having these fatal accidents.

"I don't know what the answer is to make sure people slow down but something has to do it."

He said his first priority would be to make a 50 mph speed limit on the road.

Mr O'Sullivan added: "I don't think the road itself is dangerous - it's the drivers who don't use common sense that cause the accidents.

"It is difficult to see in some cases how these things happen, especially in daylight.

"But last week I had a driver overtake me by crossing the double white lines.

"So, no matter how many notices and precautions you have, there is always someone who will ignore them."

Mr Jelf said: "We have notices and we have roadside markings. What else can we do?

"People have got to drive more responsibly and more carefully - some of the driving you see on that road is absolutely crazy."

The driver of the Ford Mondeo who died in Friday's crash has not yet been named by police. His passenger, who suffered head injuries, was reported to be in a stable condition at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Dr Davidson died when 19-year-old Nolan Haworth, of Ribston Close, Banbury, crashed into her car in May.

Oxford Crown Court heard he had no licence and was driving a borrowed car with no insurance. His sentence of four years imprisonment for admitting causing death by dangerous driving has been attacked by Dr Davidson's mother Elizabeth Davidson and by Mr Baldry.