A GRIEVING father has won his battle to cut the speed limit on the road where his 12-year-old daughter was knocked down and killed.

Paul Houston said Blackburn with Darwen Council's decision to impose a 20mph limit would help save lives and prevent another family facing the nightmare he has endured.

But he insisted more work was needed in the Newfield Drive area of Blackburn to improve road safety even further.

Today the MP who backed his appeal for action, Hyndburn's Greg Pope, welcomed the work and said he hoped it would prevent another tragedy.

Amy Houston, who lived with her mother Joanne Cocker in Ravenglass Close, died after being hit by a car when she ran into the road last November.

Failed Iraqi asylum seeker Aso Mohammed Ibrahim was jailed for four months for driving while disqualified, without insurance and failing to stop after an accident.

Following the inquest into the Our Lady and Saint John's High School pupil's death, coroner Michael Singleton wrote to the council suggesting that safety on the road should be reviewed, along with the on-street parking.

The 20mph zone operating elsewhere in Fishmoor is now to be extended.

Mr Houston, of Russia Street, Accrington, said: "I am very pleased the council is doing this, because anything that slows drivers down has to be good news.

"I can't understand why it wasn't included in the 20mph zone first place.

"Hopefully, now people will drive more slowly, and prevent another family going through what we have.

"But something needs to be done about the parking there.

"People parking on the roads, and even on the pavement buildouts means that it's only a matter of time before another child runs out into the path of a car."

Graham Burgess, the council's executive director for regeneration and technical services, said: "A 20mph limit with associated traffic calming measures is to be introduced along a section of Newfield Drive.

"This scheme will consider the pedestrian desire lines for crossing and will look to the position of build-outs at these locations.

"Consideration will also be given during the design of the scheme as to whether parking in this area is appropriate and any necessary legal traffic regulation orders will be processed as a result."

Mr Houston is also campaigning for a new charge of causing death while driving disqualified to be introduced.

No charge in relation to Amy's death was brought after crash investigators concluded there was no evidence Ibrahim he had been driving dangerously.

Mr Houston's campaign is currently being backed by Greg Pope, Hyndburn's MP.

He said: "I am pleased the council in Blackburn with Darwen is acting following this tragedy.

"I can only begin to imagine what he has been through and, hopefully, it will prevent another tragedy."