OXFORD could benefit from a £7m Government cash pot set aside to make cities safer for cyclists through improved junctions and segregated cycle paths.

The city is one of eight, along with Bristol, Leeds, Cambridge, Birmingham, Norwich, Manchester and Newcastle, invited to bid for £6.5m of that pot.

The remaining £500,000 will support the Big Bike Revival project to get more people cycling.

Oxford was selected as one of the eight cities selected in 2013 as part of the Government's Cycle City Ambition scheme and has already received funding for improvements across the city - including the £835,000 Plain roundabout project.

But the latest announcement will focus on schemes designed specifically to improve safety and could include segregated cycle paths and safer junctions.

Cycling minister Jesse Norman said: "Everyone should be able to take advantage of the huge health and environmental benefits of cycling.

"While Britain has some of the safest roads in the world, we want to encourage more people to take up cycling.

"This funding, as part of our overall cycling and walking strategy, will help local councils to make their roads safer for everyone."