ICE and snow caused a spate of accidents on Oxfordshire’s roads during today’s morning rush-hour.

There were crashes across the county, although drivers escaped serious injury.

James Keating-Wilkes, a spokesman for South Central Ambulance, said: “There was a series of accidents on the M40 north of Oxford, and the B4100 near Bicester was also difficult to drive on.

“I think drivers dismissed the snow, because it was powdery, but combined with the black ice, it was extremely dangerous.

“Our staff were very busy and a number of drivers were taken to hospital.”

The Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance was called to a crash at the Little Coxwell turn on the A420 at 9.25am.

Two cars were involved in a collision on the ice in Hanney Road, Steventon, but no-one was hurt. Firefighters freed a driver from an overturned car on the A361, near the Tews turn, east of Chipping Norton. He was treated by paramedics.

County council spokesman Paul Smith said: “We did grit the roads. However, it was on the basis of A-routes only, following Government instructions to all councils to cut back on gritting.”