More than 200 cyclists were caught endangering lives by riding in the dark without lights, police have revealed.

During a month-long clampdown, officers issued 202 £30 fixed penalty notices to cyclists in Oxford. They also issued five in Banbury and 10 in Bicester.

The 217 tickets issued across Oxfordshire account for all but three of the 220 tickets issued across the Thames Valley during the campaign, which ran during November.

A total of 140 Oxford cyclists had their fines cancelled because they took the option of buying some lights after the tickets were issued. Police joined forces with Cyclox, the Oxford cycling campaign group, and the Oxford Cycle Workshop in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, for one day of the clampdown.

Cyclox spokesman James Styring said: "Oxford Cycle Workshop had 100 sets of front and rear lights on the spot for people to buy as they were stopped.

"The point wasn't penalising people, it was encouraging people to be safe. There were three or four mechanics there, fitting lights.

"Cyclox were there in an awareness-raising capacity, talking to people about the pros and cons of bike lights.

"One of our directors, Tim Chapman, is from the Oxford City Primary Care Trust and wanted to talk to people about the medical side of this. It is so important people have lights so they don't end up in A&E."

James Dawton, of the cycle workshop, said: "Some people, especially foreign students, didn't know they needed lights.

"Others were glad they had been stopped because they said they had been meaning to get some lights for ages.

"Only one person rode off without stopping."

Roads policing officer Sgt Paul Thornton said: "The education and diversion scheme is now over. Anyone caught riding on the road in the dark without lights on will be given a fine."