THE TRANQUILITY of village life in Fringford has come to a thundering end thanks to rat-running motorists dodging roadworks and diversion signs.

Kathy Garner said that since the A4421 Bicester to Finmere road shut last week for a month-long programme of repairs, her village hasbecome inundated with vehicles including HGVs.

She said lorries and buses are now rumbling through Fringford from 6.30am.

Oxfordshire County Council has placed diversion signs on the Bicester ringroad in Skimmingdish Lane warning drivers the road is closed and to use a diversion on the B4100.

But Mrs Garner said motor-ists were ignoring the signs and instead using Fringford as a shortcut.

The office manager also believes many lorry drivers are turning a blind eye to the village’s 7.5tonne weight limit.

She said: “I’m just worried there is going to be an accident as this road is used by an awful lot of people who ride bikes or jog.

“There are quite a few tricky turns for two cars passing let alone a HGV coming through. There road is barely wide enough for two cars.”

And she asked: “Why on earth don’t the council put signs up saying ‘local traffic’ only and enforce the diversion?”

Parish council chairman Adrian Thwaites said: “The council have put up enough signs, so lorries can see them and they are far enough away from the village for people to follow diversionary routes.

“But our concern is what is going to happen to the minor roads if they get seriously smashed up with lorries coming up and down them.

“The traffic has increased 10-fold and there is a lot more heavy traffic going up and down.”

Rodney Rose, county council cabinet member for transport, warned that HGV drivers flouting any village weight limit could be fined up to £1,000.

He said: “The county council has put up highly visible, extensive signage to advertise the closure and the diversion.

“It has also sought to publicise the closure in the local media.

“There are signs in place to advertise the temporary weight limits on minor roads to protect nearby villages from HGVs.

“Trading Standards officers are monitoring the temporary restrictions to ensure HGV drivers stick to the signed diversion.

“Any HGV over 7.5 tonnes breaching the restriction ultimately risks being fined.

“The diversion is signed as the appropriate route for all vehicles, including cars.”