A RESTAURANT in Oxford is being asked to take part in a turnpike trial as council bosses consider bringing back tolls to crack down on traffic.

The number of shoppers at the Westgate Centre is expected to increase from five million to 16 million when it reopens following a £440m revamp in October.

With top brands coming to the city including Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Victoria's Secret Pink, there are fears Oxford's streets could get even more snarled up with traffic.

Now staff at The One restaurant and bar in Botley Road, where a turnpike tollbooth used to operate, have stepped in to offer to help.

They have been given the go-ahead to run a 'tollbooth' on the busy route into the city centre.

As traffic crawls to a standstill during rush-hour staff will knock on car windows to ask for a fee but they will also offer a variety of Chinese, Thai and Japanese delicacies.

Restaurant staff are urging drivers not to eat their takeaways until they get to work for fear it could distract them while they are driving.

"We don't want people to end up with Wonton soup or spicy fish balls in their lap," said manager David Chu.

"But commuters might appreciate the opportunity to pick up a portion of aromatic crispy duck on their way home.

"This arrangement will be good for business and although we won't work in quite the same way as the Swinford toll bridge it will slow up the traffic.

"We will try to have a range of items on the menu ready to go otherwise it could all get a bit hectic."

Labour city councillor Colin Cook, who often cycles past the One bar, said: "History is repeating itself now a toll booth is coming back to this part of Botley Road.

"I can't imagine what it would be like eating a Chinese while riding a bike and I have no intention of trying it but I might be tempted to stop off for a bit of breakfast - it will make a change from Waitrose.

"Drivers could offer to pay a donation for their food and hopefully there will be a free fortune cookie for every car paying the toll.

"This may deter some drivers from using the Botley Road but of course that is the desired effect."

Until the 1830s a tollhouse stood alongside the causeway east of Bulstake Bridge, but in 1850 this was demolished during construction of the new Great Western Railway station and a new stone tollhouse was built to intercept traffic approaching from the west.