HIGH winds blew trees into roads across Oxfordshire causing difficult conditions for drivers today.

Shortly after 6am, a large tree fell across the A361 Bloxham Road, near Chipping Norton, blocking part of the carriageway.

Two cars collided as the drivers tried to avoid the tree. They were not seriously injured and police were called to help clear the road.

A tree also fell on a car in Samphire Road, Blackbird Leys, this morning.

Toby Shergold, a spokesman for Oxford Police, said: "We have received dozens of reports across the Thames Valley of fallen trees causing road hazards.

"Highways Agency staff are helping to clear the roads."

Yesterday dozens of homes and businesses were flooded after a deluge hit the west and north of the county.

Roads were also left impassable - with one elderly couple having to be rescued from their car by firefighters in Witney - as 35mm (half of the average rainfall for January) hit Witney and its surrounding villages.

Householders in low-lying areas of Bampton, Leafield, Alvescot, Witney and Broughton Poggs, near Burford, were woken at about 3am when water started flowing into their homes.

The rest of the county was hit by 15mm of rainfall.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service received more than 30 calls for assistance.

Continued.....

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