A coroner has demanded action on a busy road crossing where a young cyclist was knocked down and killed.

Nine-year-old Ryan Sullivan died as he was crossing a road just a few hundred yards from his home in Sturt Road, Charlbury, in June.

He was crossing at a controversial chicane where the road narrows.

At an inquest into Ryan's death, Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner called on the county council to improve the safety of the Sturt Road crossing. Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Gardiner said: "I am concerned as to the lay-out of this particular crossing and I have urged the authorities to look into it. A crossing of this sort in this position is likely to cause problems."

Ryan's relatives are also furious that nothing has been done to improve safety, and have collected a petition of 400 signatures supporting their case.

They are also preparing to sue the council for negligence in a damages claim.

The car driver, Lionel Spindlow, of Orchard Close, Witney, who has not been charged by police, was driving at about 20mph at the time of the crash.

He told the inquest the first time he knew something was wrong was when his car windscreen shattered. After the hearing, Ryan's grandfather, Peter Sullivan, said: "the crossing is a disgrace."

But Colin Carritt, the county area engineer, said the report from police accident investigators did not reveal any significant problems.

"Although this one tragic accident has put a very clear focus on the site, it is not an accident blackspot," he said.

Story date: Friday 03 December

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