RESIDENTS and councillors living next to a towpath in Banbury have welcomed new signs on the route to deter speeding cyclists.

People from Chamberlain Court, opposite the Castle Quay shopping centre, have been worried for years that a serious accident might happen if riders going too fast hit a pedestrian.

They have persuaded the Canal and River Trust to put up signs on the path, which ask cyclists to slow down and "share the space".

Jenny Ratcliff, who lives next to the towpath, said she had told riders several times to kill their speed while cycling past.

The 85-year-old said: "There are often groups of young cyclists racing along the towpath and I’m worried that some of our residents if taken by surprise could be injured or end up in the canal.

"If you go out and walk there you could get knocked over and hurt.

"No-one here wants to stop people cycling but we are just asking for them to go a little slower. They probably think they are in the Olympics."

Despite the trust finally taking action, Mrs Ratcliff said there should be more signs up along the route to make sure they are noticed.

A Canal and River Trust spokesperson said, “We are holding a ‘Share the Space’ event on the towpath on the morning of Tuesday September 27 to raise awareness of our towpath code.

"This forms part of a national campaign week in which we will promote cyclists slowing down and pedestrians taking care on towpaths around the county.”