THE granddad of a schoolgirl who was tragically killed in a car crash last year is holding a rally to call for improved safety on a Hapton road.

Albert Marsh wants to see more signs put up along Manchester Road near to where Estelle Thompson lost her life on her 17th birthday, as well as a new speed camera.

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The Burnley student was a front-seat passenger in a Ford Ka travelling towards Padiham when it crashed just after the humpback canal bridge, near The Stables, on July 20.

She had lived in Lawrence Avenue, Burnley, and was a former student at Cherry Fold Primary School and Unity College and had been attending Accrington and Rossendale College.

Around 30 people are expected to take part in the rally, which will also act as a remembrance event for the youngster, on Sunday, April 19, from 10.30am.

A fleet of motorbikes are expected to travel from the bridge in Manchester Road to Padiham through to Accrington and back.

Albert, 61, of Howard Street, Burnley, said: “This is the last thing I’m going to do to try and help make that area safer.

“I have tried over the past months since the accident to get something done and I just hope that this is the time it happens.

“I just know that there will be another accident if nothing is done.

“The bridge is a 20mph zone but nobody goes over it at that.

“People come flying over it and it’s a very dangerous area if you are in the car or walking by the road.

“I don’t want anybody to have to go through what me and my family had to.

“There needs to be more signage in the lead up to the bridge on both sides and a speed camera would help deter people from going over the limit. It’s a busy road and the last thing people want is to have measures put in that causes traffic to build up.

“These improvements would make it safer but also make sure that traffic flows smoothly.”

Cllr Howard Baker, who represents Trinity Ward on Burnley Council, said: “I’m sorry for his loss and I’m sure lots of people appreciate what he is trying to do to stop the same thing happening to other people.”