FATHER OF M56 BOY IS TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION; New call for safety lessons.

Byline: KEVIN CORE

THE dad of a boy killed as he tried to cross the M56 motorway on his scooter is to take legal action to highlight motorway safety.

Colin Lambert, 33, of Murdishaw, spoke after Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg recorded the "unintentional" deaths of his son Kieran Coupe, seven and his friend Guy Davies, six.

The Runcorn pair died instantly when they were struck attempting to push their scooters from the central reservation in the direction of the Preston Brook Pub.

Mr Lambert called for children to receive more education about dangers on the road and urged them to think how their parents would feel if they were hurt in an accident.

During his summing up, the coroner said the boys had never been out so late before and as darkness fell quickly their decision-making process was affected. He said: "It is a mistake to consider this on the basis of adult logic and common sense.

"These are young children, probably absolutely terrified, worried, way past the time they should be home, desperately upset and acting on the spur of the moment without thought or consideration."

Members of the public had spoken to the boys after spotting them playing under machinery on a Morgan Est construction site next to the carriageway.

Work on a water leak had seen a large section of perimeter fencing removed and not replaced, leaving the motorway accessible.

Mr Rheinberg said: "My judgement is that they did access the motorway at the point where the fence had been removed."

Outside the inquest dad Guy Davies Snr called for more road safety education for young people and for the motorway network to be fenced off.

He said: "I'd like to thank everyone for their support since the accident, my family has been devastated. I'm an HGV driver and a lot more should be done to increase safety on the motorways."

He also offered special thanks to Murdishaw West Primary School. Kieran's dad Colin Lambert said he will take legal action to highlight the removal of the fence which allowed the boys access.

He said: "Keiran always liked to stay close to home and his family. This was the first time he was away from home.

"I will take this all the way, if you get to a school there's a 10 foot fence but there's nothing to stop children getting on a motorway?"

CAPTION(S):

TRAGIC: Guy Davies, far left, and Kieran Coupe were killed on the M56 at Runcorn. Right: Guy's father, Guy Davies, tells of his devastation