The number of deaths on Oxfordshire's roads this year has reached 65 - the highest this century.

Six people have been killed in just three days.

On Monday, there were three fatal crashes which claimed four lives near Burford, Tubney and Henley.

They followed two deaths on the M40 on Sunday.

The fatalities are the latest in a string of incidents on the county's roads, making 2006 the worst year for road deaths since 2000.

Paramedic Andy Battye, the officer on the scene at the Burford, Tubney and M40 incidents, said: "Our sympathies go to the families of those killed and injured, particularly at this time of year.

"The ambulance crews have dealt with some very distressing scenes and complicated traumas over the past few days and the standard of care and professionalism shown has been outstanding.

"However, we do not want this figure to rise and we would urge everyone to take extra care on the road."

The latest incident happened on the A40 near Burford on Monday evening when two men were killed in a head-on smash.

A red Toyota Rav 4 and a silver Mazda MX-5 were involved in the collision, which happened about half a mile outside Burford at about 8.30pm.

The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene. The Mazda driver had to be cut from his car by firefighters.

He suffered serious head, chest and leg injuries and was taken by air ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, where he later died.

At 4.20pm the same day, a white Ford Transit van was involved in a collision with an 80-year-old woman pedestrian in Gravel Hill, Henley.

The woman was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading where she later died. The driver of the van was not injured.