Equestrian campaigners were in Banbury on Saturday to try to reduce the numbers of accidents involving cars and horses.

Riders Joely Deane, Mel Tomlinson, and Lydia Brinkworth, are pictured left to right, with Herbert the horse, handing a leaflet to Thom Ives, in High Street.

Riders Joely Deane, Mel Tomlinson, and Lydia Brinkworth were trying to raise awareness of the 3,000 horse-related road accidents in the UK every year.

Last year, seven riders and 21 horses were killed on England's roads.

Ms Tomlinson said: "No matter how courteous we are as horse riders, there are always drivers not willing to slow down." She said she had experienced two 'very near misses'.

Her horses are kept in a paddock in Overthorpe, near Middleton Cheney. She said: "We have to ride on country roads. There are only two bridleways in our area. We have to cross the Middleton Cheney bypass to reach one and the other runs alongside the railway line, and is not really suitable."

The campaign, which is sponsored by Horse magazine, asks motorists and horseriders to work together. Drivers are asked to slow down, allow plenty of room for horses, and not make sudden noises. Riders are advised to be courteous, signal clearly, and wear reflective clothing.