A RUSH of shoppers looking for budget bargains at a new supermarket has sparked road safety fears.

Discount chain Lidl opened its doors in Cowley, Oxford, two weeks ago and already locals say they are worried over the lack of a proper crossing for pedestrians getting to the store.

The crossing is included in plans for the area but will not be in place for up to three months.

Local councillors say a pedestrian crossing is desperately needed to help prevent a serious accident. There have also been complaints about the increase in traffic because of people attracted to the £7m store.

Lye Valley city councillor Bob Timbs said: "Before long children are going to go there to get sweets and it's not going to be long before we have a major accident on this road."

Leys and Lye county councillor Val Smith added: "We have got to take some steps to protect people crossing that road.

"I am delighted that the county council will do the work, but it would be better if they could bring it forward.

"Having gone down there and seeing the mums with pushchairs trying to cross the road I would like this done quickly."

Lidl's development executive Ian Lawrence said a pedestrian crossing would be built at the Transport Way and Sandy Lane junction as promised in the planning agreement.

But he said the timing of the work, which also includes improved cycle lanes and footpaths in the area, was in the hands of Oxfordshire County Council.

The council says work is due to begin in May and will take eight weeks. Cabinet member for transport David Robertson said: "We will get on with the job as soon as we can."

The store's opening in March was the culmination of a 12-year quest by the German chain to open in Oxford.

It had investigated 13 possible sites in the city and had seen plans for the current store rejected twice by the city council, with traffic problems cited as one of the reasons.

The company eventually won the go-ahead after a public inquiry was held.