A survey of Banbury residents has raised a question mark over the need for cycle lanes and bus priority schemes favoured by road planners.

It also revealed support for campaigners trying to stop a huge new housing estate being built in Bodicote.

The figures have come from an analysis of survey forms sent out by Banbury Town Council before Christmas. The forms went to every tenth house, and 2,515 people answered questions on aspects of life in Banbury.

After Easter, work begins on installing traffic calming measures and cycle lanes in South Bar, Horsefair and North Bar. Bus priority schemes are planned for George Street and Middleton Road, and other costly cycle lanes are already in place.

But only 3.8 per cent of people surveyed said they cycled around town and just 4.5 per cent used public transport. Nearly two-thirds of people said they travelled by car or van, while almost 20 per cent walked.

There was support for campaigners fighting a proposed 890-house development on the south of the town next to Bankside.

Only 10.7 per cent of those surveyed were in favour of large new estates, while 66 per cent wanted houses to be built in small groups, and 47 per cent thought there should no more new houses.

The survey showed vandalism concerned more people (84 per cent) than any other problem, with theft (73 per cent), and drunkeness (60 per cent), the other main issues.

The quality of life in Banbury is better than ten years ago, according to 47 per cent of people, and nearly 94 per cent said the town's shops were good or reasonable.

The survey forms are still being analysed and further details will be released later. Every household that returned a completed survey form was entered in a free draw for a £250 Debenhams shopping voucher, won by James Ross, of Gillette Close.