Workers say they have only narrowly missed being hit by cars

Builders downed tools in Bampton, near Witney, Oxfordshire, after they said aggressive motorists put them at risk.

They claim a number of speeding drivers have narrowly missed workers.

The �73,000 project to build chicanes on each of four roads into the village has been temporarily called off by the council's contractors Isis Accord.

Contractors had been working for just a few days before abandoning the site and it is estimated that the project will take another two days at each site to complete.

'Unsafe for workers'

Mark McArthur-Christie, who lives in the village, told the BBC: "I ride my bike to work in Witney most days and I have been pushed off the road by drivers and had others attempt to head through traffic calming works with me coming the other way.

"It's such a shame as the parish council has worked so hard to get the traffic calming measures.

"One chicane in particular is between two bends and hard to see, so drivers don't have enough time to slow down in advance.

"It is leading to aggressive face offs between drivers, neither of whom wish to give way."

Mr McArthur-Christie added: "Another problem is that the chicanes themselves are tarmac, concrete and galvanised steel - completely out of place in such a beautiful rural setting."

Mike Collins, a principal engineer with Oxfordshire County Council, said: "The site conditions became unsafe for workers to continue, with SUV vehicles clipping the edge of the safety zone."

The council hopes the project can be resumed as quickly as possible and is considering closing each road while work takes place.