REBUILDING work could finally solve problems on a road dating back more than six years.

Residents have complained for some time that Mill Lane in Chinnor is in such a bad state there could be a serious accident.

Derek Randall, in a letter, asked the parish council what steps they have taken to get Oxfordshire County Council to carry out urgent repair works "before we have a serious accident in the village."

The road has been classed as a failed road for more than two years but area engineer Brian Short said the problems go back much further than that.

He said: "I've been here six-and-a-half years and it's been a problem all of that time.

"We will be carrying out construction work on the carriageway where it has failed in places and also resurfacing work."

Residents had criticised Oxfordshire County Council for not carrying out work sooner, at the annual parish meeting of Chinnor Parish Council.

The road is used every day by parents, taking their children to Mill Lane school.

Beverley Fagan said the road had "deteriorated in the last couple of months."

Alex Chilton pointed out that Oxfordshire County Council now had more money to carry out road repairs.

Residents then learnt that work is planned to be carried out on the road during the summer when the school is shut, so as to avoid major disruption.

Clerk to the council Brenda Wilson read out two letters from Mr Short.

In a letter, dated April, 2000, Mr Short said Mill Lane needed major reconstruction which could not be carried out at the time because the county council did not have the finances. The carriageway had to be mended in the short-term, though in a safe way.

But in a second letter, dated March 26, 2001, Mr Short said: "I am pleased to confirm Mill Lane will be repaired in the financial year during the summer holidays."

Pat Heywood, chairman of Chinnor Parish Council's planning liaison committee, said it was good news, adding: "We've had it as a failed road for such a long time.

"The rain hasn't helped this year."