THE inquest into the death of Corsham School pupil Sam O'Dell will be held next week and has brought into focus, once again, calls for road safety.

Eleven-year-old Sam died after he was in collision with a van on Hardenhuish Lane, Chippenham, in February.

He was airlifted to Bristol's Frenchay Hospital but died from head injuries.

The inquest is due to be held at Trowbridge Town Hall on Tuesday.

Sam was a pupil at Corsham Primary, in Pound Pill, and lived with his parents in Broadmead, Corsham.

The news of the inquest has renewed concern over the safety of the road, which is crossed every day by hundreds of pupils at Sheldon and Hardenhuish secondary schools.

At the moment the speed limit on the road is 30mph.

Sheldon sixth form pupil Jesse Lake, at the time of the accident, called for a safe crossing on the road.

Chippenham town councillor Bill Douglas has been campaigning to make Hardenhuish Lane safer.

He said: "What we asked for were flashing lights at either end of the road.

"However, this particular incident, we don't think was speed related. Despite this I have contacted the county council and asked that they send an engineer out to look at the situation."

A council spokesperson said: "Should the coroner make any recommendations about highway safety following the tragedy on Hardenhuish Lane earlier this year we will look at how best to implement them."