Roadworks cause 'chaos' for school

Head teacher Lynn Wood said the congestion was putting pedestrians and cyclists at risk

Roadworks near a school have caused "chaos", putting children at risk and preventing staff from getting to work, a head teacher has said.

Lynn Wood, head of the Europa School in Culham, Oxfordshire said it took parents up to two hours to get to the school on Friday.

The Openreach works are taking place on the A415, either side of the turn onto Abingdon road towards Culham village.

Openreach said it was carrying out "urgent" repair works on the route and apologised for the disruption caused.

Ms Wood said the school was forced to stagger pick up times on Friday afternoon because of delays

Speaking to BBC Radio Oxford, Ms Wood said the school was not given notice of the closure, which began on Friday.

"We've staggered drop-off times slightly in [our primary school] but our secondary students start at quarter past eight and we don't want them to miss their learning," she said.

She added traffic on Monday morning was "chaotic" with cars mounting pavements, and said the area needed better traffic management.

Oxfordshire County Council said the roadworks were the responsibility of BT Openreach who were undertaking urgent repair work.

The work is due to finish on Tuesday according to the Causeway traffic information website.

An Openreach spokesperson said: "We are currently carrying out urgent work to repair and replace three damaged carriageway boxes along this route.

"For the safety of both the public and our team on site, traffic management measures have been put in place.

"The permit for works started on Thursday and is due to expire by the end of Tuesday.

"We're sorry for the disruption this is causing."