A Coroner has called for urgent safety improvements to be made on a stretch of road after a teenage cyclist was killed by a lorry.

Andrew King, 17, died instantly when the lorry knocked him down as he was crossing Knowles Lane in Holme Wood, Bradford last April.

At a Bradford inquest Coroner Roger Whittaker urged the highway authority to provide a light-controlled pedestrian crossing at the junction with Tong Street, to prevent further fatalities.

Speaking after the hearing Andrew's mother Lynn King welcomed Mr Whittaker's call for safety improvements which she had also made immediately after her son's death.

Recording an accident verdict, Mr Whittaker said the road was dangerous because pedestrians had to look over their shoulder to see oncoming traffic.

Mrs King, who has since moved to Tiverton Walk, Holme Wood with her husband Stephen and four children, said: "I hope what the Coroner said will change things. That junction is so busy.''

Andrew had been bent over his mountain bike, crossing the road, when he was struck by the Scania lorry and fell under its wheels.

Errol Brown, who saw the collision, said: "The truck came round the corner and came round so quickly. Next minute I saw him underneath. He was shouting for help but I could not help him. If I had tried to pull him out I would have lost my life.''

A post mortem revealed that Andrew, of Oddy Street, Bradford, died from a head injury.

The inquest heard that Andrew had been wearing earphones connected to a personal stereo system playing loud music when the accident occurred.

Mr Whitaker said: "It's a cautionary tale to all cyclists that they should not listen to head-sets when they are in traffic, for obvious reasons."

A Bradford Council spokesman said the Coroner's recommendations would be considered.

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