Boy, 7, dies on M61

A seven-year-old boy was killed as he dashed across a busy motorway with a group of friends at the weekend. Gary Cunliffe. of Clayton Brook, near Preston, was struck by a car on the M61 near Preston, Lancashire. He was airlifted to the Royal Preston Hospital by police helicopter but died 10 minutes after he arrived.

Lancashire Police said an investigation was under way but there was no suggestion that Gary was being chased or that the boys were playing "chicken". A spokeswoman said the tragedy underlined the danger of children going anywhere near motorways. "At no time should anyone go onto the carriageway, let alone a child," she said.