The parents of a 17-year-old who died in an horrific accident today backed calls for Government ministers to release funds to make busy Tong Street in Bradford safer.

Andy King, of Oddy Street, died near his home after being hit by a lorry at the junction with Tong Street and Knowles Lane.

His parents, Stephen and Lynn, said the traffic on the road was so bad that an accident was waiting to happen.

Mrs King, 34, said: "The traffic there is crazy and we want to see something done about it.

"If something can be done then Andy will not have died in vain."

Andy was due to start at art college in Shipley in September. A promising artist, he was also interested in music and had a passion for Newcastle United.

Mrs King said: "I'd like to thank everyone for their help, support, cards and flowers. Andy was a real live wire, very popular with lots of friends."

Councillor Tim Mahon wants proposals for an £11 million dual carriageway to be revived after being shelved.

Residents voted in favour of the scheme in a public consultation exercise six years ago. Since then the plan has been on ice while officers examined ways of reducing the level of traffic using the road as an alternative.

But now Coun Mahon (Lab, Tong) has asked the district's MPs to lobby Environment and Transport Secretary John Prescott for funds for the scheme.

And yesterday Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe said he would press Ministers for urgent action on the road which has been the scene of numerous accidents over the years.

Coun Mahon said: "Tong Street is a nightmare with serious accidents just waiting to happen. Something must be done urgently because the road is no longer capable of carrying this level of traffic."

The Council is carrying out a £65,000 traffic calming scheme on the road, including pedestrian refuges - but Coun Mahon said the only thing which would help was "major surgery."

"The traffic volume far exceeds the capability of the road," he said.

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