WORLD-CLASS cyclists tearing through Oxfordshire for the Tour of Britain could be met with catastrophe when they reach a pothole riddled road in Charlbury, it has been warned.

The dismal state of Dyers Hill, which forms part of the Tour route, was raised with Oxfordshire County Council as early as June.

But, with one day remaining until 120 top level cyclists race through the town for stage seven, the road remains in a hazardous state.

The county council has pledged to fix the road before the end of today - but residents who have heard such assurances in the past do not hold out much hope.

Dad-of-two Jim Clemence lives in the road and has seen two incidents over the course of the summer.

First he witnessed a cyclist get a puncture while moving along the road and, earlier this week, he saw a woman fall and injure herself so badly she had to be taken away by an ambulance.

He said: "Since seeing a Charlbury lady suffer a blow out puncture on this pothole this summer, it has only got worse.

"I am extremely worried about what might happen if the Tour comes down here tomorrow without this and other potholes being repaired and with crowds lining the narrow pavements.

"I was told by the county council on Tuesday that this would be repaired but, with 24 hours to go, I am not confident."

Another Dyers Hill resident, Mark Sulik, is frustrated that the council didn’t resolve the problem much sooner.

The 53-year-old said: “Why isn’t this problem being fixed anyway for the safety of residents?

"If a 26-year-old woman walking home falls over and injures herself, what's going to happen to others?"

County councillor for Charlbury Liz Leffman said she raised the issue in the last full council meeting and was assured something would be done.

She said: "I'm really quite shocked that nothing has been done. We've known about the Tour for months.

"This is really last minute, and I can't believe they've left it so long to sort it out.

"It's dangerous both to the cyclists tearing down these village roads and to all those people who will be lined up to view the race.

"It's an accident waiting to happen."

The peleton will pass through towns and villages including Horton-cum-Studley, Islip, Bletchingdon, Wootton, Charlbury and the Wychwoods before continuing through the Cotswolds, eventually finishing stage seven in Cheltenham town centre. For details see oxfordmail.co.uk.