Schoolboy's road death prompt for safety calls

Villagers today demanded traffic calming measures on a road where a nine-year-old boy was killed after being involved in a collision with two cars.

Residents of Overton, near Ellesmere are calling for speed bumps and pedestrian crossings and have launched a letter-writing campaign.

It comes after schoolboy Robert Gaunt died after being struck by two vehicles on Thursday on the A539 Wrexham Road.

Now villagers hope to inundate North Wales Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom with hundreds of protest letters to put pressure on the authorities.

Residents are also asking for speed cameras, chicanes or reduced speed limits.

Campaign spokeswoman Marianne Rogers, of School Lane, Overton, said: "People are very angry and we want as many people in Overton as possible to write letters.

"The idea of writing the letters was the brainchild of Overton Community Councillor Michael Pinder and they are available in the corner shop on High Street."

Already more than 100 sample letters have been dished out around the village.

l David James Lunn, 61, appeared at Mold Magistrates Court yesterday charged with causing Robert Gaunt's death while using an uninsured vehicle.

Lunn, of Moorland Avenue, Wrexham, is also charged with causing the boy's death by driving a vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He is also charged with perverting the course of public justice by allegedly disposing of and attempting to dispose of evidence at Premier Bodies, St Martins, Oswestry, between March 19 and March 22. He faces six further motoring charges. He entered no pleas and was remanded in custody.