A high proportion of women in Oxfordshire fear for their safety when out alone at night, a poll suggests.

A total of 414 Oxford Mail readers took part in our 24 hour poll asking 'Do you feel safe walking alone at night in our county?'.

Of all the respondents, 46.6 per cent said they were female and did not feel safe alone at night in Oxfordshire, compared to 21 per cent of men polled.

And just 6.8 per cent who were women said they felt safe in our county at night, compared to 25.6 per cent of men.

The question was posed in the wake of the disappearance of Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old woman who had walked home alone at night after seeing a friend in London.

A Metropolitan Police officer has been arrested on suspicion of her kidnap and murder.

It prompted women across social media to share their experiences of feeling fearful when alone at night, and in some instances, avoiding going out past a certain time.

READ MORE: Women asked NOT to gather for reclaim street vigil

In a discussion on the Oxford Mail Facebook page, one Witney man, Steve L, said he often crossed the road in an effort to make women feel safer at night.

"I have found myself crossing to the other side of the road if I'm walking behind a women at night so it hopefully makes them feel a little at ease... rather than continue to walk behind them," he said. 

"I walk quite fast so that could possibly freak someone out if you are approaching quickly from behind."

Local Kelly Mercer added: "Maybe stop telling women not to walk alone at night, and start telling men not to abduct them?!".

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