SAFETY railings have been installed at the Arndale Centre’s car park in a bid to stop people killing themselves there.

The Accrington shopping centre’s owners had pledged to improve safety after five deaths in five years and have kept their promise.

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The red railings were fixed to cover gaps at the Union Street centre’s multi-storey car park, while the top deck will also remain closed indefinitely.

The centre’s owner Jesta Group was targeted by campaigners following the death of 17-year-old Lauren Johnson there last year. (2014) Thousands of internet users joined a Facebook group calling for the centre to be ‘made safe or knocked down’.

Hundreds also attended a protest march through the streets of Accrington.

And coroner for Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, Michael Singleton, said barriers on the car park might have stopped Lauren falling between 80 and 100 feet to her death.

He said: “I am not naive to think somebody is not capable of climbing over, but somebody whose intent wavers may have the opportunity for the intent to disappear whilst they contemplate how they are going to overcome the hurdles.”

After launching a safety review, the centre asked specialist contractors to advise on closing the lifts and access ramps to the top decks in the car park.

Bosses also met with the police, the Samaritans, and the council to discuss their plans.

Speaking at the teenager’s inquest in November, Jesta Group director David Berman said work to stop access to the car park’s ledges would be completed by the end of the year.

He said lighting and CCTV cameras had been improved, and security had been beefed up after a ‘significant increase’ in the number of people trying to jump off the car park following Lauren’s death.

The centre is also working closely with the Samaritans, he added.

Lauren’s mum, Dawn, said: “At the inquest, the Arndale Centre made certain promises and I thought it would be tight doing it before the end of the year.

“After the inquest, my friend had parked on the fourth floor of the car park and she was questioned by security guards asking where she was going because she had no shopping bags.

“They escorted her to her car and watched her leave. It’s a really positive move and I’m pleased with that.”