KINGHAM commuters will have to take the long way round to reach the village’s railway station for the next fortnight.

Station Road is being closed south of Cozen’s Lane from Monday, April 8, to allow contractors working for Oxfordshire County Council to fill in the arch underneath a disused railway bridge with concrete, in order to strengthen the structure.

During the closure, traffic between Kingham and the railway station will be diverted via Churchill and along the B4450.

The bridge used to carry the road over the former branch line from Kingham station to Chipping Norton and Banbury.

Although the railway line closed in 1964, the hump-backed bridge has remained in place ever since, along with a similar bridge on the road between Cornwell and Chipping Norton.

Access will be maintained at all times for emergency vehicles while the work is taking place.