PLANS have been drawn up to improve safety at a Burnley skate park where a teenager was killed when he fell off his bike.

Burnley Council has put together its ideas for making the skate area at Piccadilly Park a safer place for youths to play following the death of youngster James Hadfield in March.

The changes, aimed at limiting the speed bikers can reach, should be introduced within the next two months.

James, 15, of Carlton Road, Burnley, died after an accident that left him with a crushed chest and skull. He died from his injuries in Burnley General Hospital.

His parents revealed their son refused to wear a helmet because he claimed it wasn't fashionable.

Stepmum Melanie and dad James said they hoped the tragedy would act as a warning to other cyclists.

Today, a Burnley Council spokesman said: "Plans have been drawn up to make alterations to the skate park.

"The council's parks and engineering units are consulting on how we can put up suitable barriers to limit the speed that bike riders can reach.

"This is expected to be agreed this week and we will then get a contractor to do the work, which should take four to five weeks.

"The skate ramps will remain closed until the work is carried out."

Following the accident, Labour backbench MP Eric Martlew introduced a Private Member's Bill to the House of Commons to make wearing cycle helmets law for under-16s. Despite using James' death as an example of the need for a change in the law, his proposal was defeated.

Mr Martlew spearheaded the campaign for tougher safety laws after narrowly cheating death himself when he suffered head injuries in a road accident as a youngster.

The Royal Association for the Prevention of Accidents advises anyone using skate parks, whether on a bike, skate board or scooter, to wear protective clothing.