A TOWN'S grieving residents today called for a road safety crackdown in the aftermath of the death of a seven-year-old boy.

Padiham householders have launched a petition demanding the early introduction of traffic-calming measures throughout the town following the death of Adam Jackson.

Adam was knocked off his BMX bike in Thompson Street on Sunday morning. He was riding his bike along the pavement when he is believed to have pedalled out into the road from between parked cars into the path of a Skoda.

The car driver was unhurt but was left shaken and upset.

Since then people have laid flowers and soft toys at the spot where the Brunshaw Primary School pupil collided with a Skoda after pulling out between two parked cars near his dad's home.

Yesterday, on the day of Adam's funeral, the town's tenants' group leaders launched a campaign for a permanent memorial to the youngster -- in the form of a safer town.

Mourners travelled in a slow procession from his home in Waddington Avenue, Burnley, past his school where headteacher Neil Tranmer and four senior pupils, staff, parents and children lined the path to pay their respects as the funeral cortege passed by.

They bowed their heads as the cars covered with bouquets and floral tributes, including arrangements spelling out 'grandson' and another in the shape of a claret and blue football -- the colours of one of Adam's favourite teams -- stopped at the school gates.

Children in the schoo hal could be heard singing the hymn 'Lord Jesus Christ' at a memorial service where Mr Tranmer made a speech about the things that made Adam special.

His mum Diane Jackson said: "If it helps stop kiddies getting knocked down, it must be a good thing." Padiham area management committee spokesman Lilian Atkinson said: "It was our unanimous feeling that something must be done.

"There have been several accidents in all areas of town -- one young boy is in a wheelchair as a result of one recent accident -- and there must be traffic-calming before we have another tragedy.

"It has touched everyone and the overwhelming feeling is that something must be done."

The petition will be presented to Burnley Council by local councillor Granville Lord.

He said: "There is a great deal of sympathy in Padiham, but that could easily turn to bitterness unless something is done quickly.

"The volume of traffic going through the streets of Padiham has increased tremendously year on year and traffic safety measures have not kept pace.

"The town cannot cope with the traffic flow and something must be done to protect children."

Adam, of Waddington Avenue, Burnley, had been visiting his father Michael Green at the time of the accident.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned by Burnley coroner David Smith.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council highways department said apart from Adam's accident, there had been three injury accidents in Thompson Street over the last five years and a "scattering" of other accidents in Thompson Street, Abingdon Road, Dryden Street and Green Lane.

He said the whole length was being considered for traffic-calming.

He said nearby Stockbridge Road, the scene of a serious accident involving a young boy last year, had recorded five personal injury accidents over the past five years.

A safety scheme, involving road humps, was being drawn up for this area and would go before the county highways committee next month, with a view to implementation before the end of this financial year.