AN 11-year-old boy has lost his fight for life after receiving serious head injuries in a road accident on the Rawtenstall to Edenfield by-pass eight days ago.

The boy, who was living in a private children's home in Rossendale, had been walking with a friend on a footpath which crosses the dual carriageway of the A682 at 6.40pm on March 20 when he was struck by two vehicles.

He was taken to Fairfield General Hospital, Bury, and transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury.

He died in the intensive care unit at 4.15pm yesterday.

His parents, who were at his bedside, had asked that he not be identified.

Acting East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor has been informed and an inquest will be held. The boy is one of three pedestrians to be killed on the notorious unlit stretch of the busy road which connects Queens' Square roundabout to the lit part of the A682, near Edenfield, in the last the eight years.

After a 12-year-old schoolboy from Haslingden died five years ago Lancashire County Council installed lights and barriers at the end of the three footpaths which cross the four-lane road.

Repeated calls have been made for a footbridge or underpass or the paths themselves to be closed off.