TRIBUTES have been paid to Burnley student who has died in a road accident.

Leon Paul Atkinson, 24, of Burnley, died in a crash on the A59 on Thursday when his Peugeot 106 was struck by a car and then a lorry outside the Bay Horse pub in Longsight Road, Osbaldeston.

Police believe the driver pulled out of a junction into the path of oncoming traffic. It is not thought speed was a factor.

Mr Atkinson was doing a degree in sports science at the University of Central Lancashire.

Steve Atkins, principal lecturer for sport and exercise at the university, said: "Leon was studying for a degree in sports science and was an excellent and enthusiastic student.

"As a world ranked rower he possessed immense sporting ability. We are all shocked and saddened by Leon's death and our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

Meanwhile parents whose children attend St Mary's RC Primary School, 100 metres up the road towards Clitheroe from the crash site have requested additional safety measures to be placed on the road.

But police and county council officials have said the road had seen a fatal accident before this one for almost a decade.

Concerned parent Anita Wright, of Mellor Brook, posted her thoughts on the Lancashire Telegraph website.

She said: "I drive this route twice daily to take and collect my son from school. Although the school is in a 40mph zone getting out of the school car park can be quite difficult at times as the speed of the traffic coming round the bend is over 40mph. This road really does need to be made safer."

Judith Metcalfe, headteacher of the school, said: "I believe that the school is safe and, by working together with the parents, we can ensure our children are safe regardless of whether anything else is done on the road."

Sgt Pete Sculpher of Accrington road policing unit said the junction had clear stop signs and that sight lines had good visibility.

He said: "It is not regarded as an accident blackspot."