An eight-year-old boy had died after being hit by a van in Penwortham and police are appealing for information about the incident.

Officers were called at around 4.20pm on Tuesday (August 2) to reports of a crash involving a black Ford Transit and a boy, on Bilsborough Hey.

The boy was taken to hospital by ambulance but died a short time later.

His family are being supported by specially-trained officers at this awful time. Officers say their thoughts are with the boy’s family, friends and the wider community.

Police are now investigating and asking anyone who saw the incident or has CCTV or dashcam, to get in touch.

Supt Gary Crowe, of Lancashire Police’s South Division, said: “First and foremost we send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the boy who died. This was a heartbreaking incident and they will be in our thoughts for a very long time.

“We also appreciate the impact this will have had on the wider community and we thank them for their understanding and patience while we carried out a meticulous analysis of the scene yesterday.

“We are now determined to get answers about what occurred and are appealing for anybody with information to come forward. If you saw the collision, or saw either the boy or the van in the moments before it happened, please get in touch. Similarly if you have dashcam or CCTV and have not yet spoken to officers, please contact us.”

Anybody with information is asked to get in touch on 101, quoting log 971 of August 1.