PART of the A420 had to be closed this morning as police and farmers rounded up a herd of runaway cows.

The animals invaded the carriageway near Cumnor at about 7am this morning, and drivers were urged to pass the road 'with extreme caution.'

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It was thought that the cows had been cleared, but the A420 then had to be closed between the Botley Interchange and Cumnor as they returned.

Oxford Mail:

Pic: Google Maps. Closure shown as dotted line

Oxfordshire County Council tweeted at 8.50am reporting that the cows have now been cleared and both sides of the road were running back to normal. 

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Most of the stretch of the A-road near Cumnor is a dual carriageway. 

One driver initially said the cows were on the road coming from Botley, just before the exit for Cumnor (shown above). 

Traffic was slow in both directions throughout morning rush hour, between Botley and Cumnor. 

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Like most of the A420, the road near Cumnor is surrounded by fields, although land used for grazing is largely separated by a thick border of trees and hedges.