A FUNDRAISING drive has been launched to pay for a footbridge over the A141 where 16-year-old Warren Hay was killed. Warren s mother Maxine said she would do whatever it takes to pay for safety improvements. Whatever we have to do, however much we have t

A FUNDRAISING drive has been launched to pay for a footbridge over the A141 where 16-year-old Warren Hay was killed.

Warren's mother Maxine said she would do whatever it takes to pay for safety improvements.

"Whatever we have to do, however much we have to raise, we will do it. A footbridge is the only safe way to cross that road with traffic going at 60mph," she said.

The fund will be started with a donation of £400 from a fun day held by the BRJ Club in Huntingdon, but the target will be about £1.5million.

Mrs Hay said: "We are very grateful to the BRJ Club. They said we could use the money for anything to do with the campaign such as raising awareness but we want it to help build the bridge."

She said a bank account would be opened in the name of the Warren Hay Action Group, which would approach businesses and organisations for donations.

Warren, a pupil at St Peter's School, Huntingdon, was killed in May on his way to Jubilee Park, a ground used by many young footballers.

A campaign was launched, with 13,000 people demanding safety improvements, but Cambridgeshire County Council's proposals have so far been met with dismay.

Last week, Mrs Hay wept at a meeting of CCC when she heard that safety measures were to be limited to a traffic island on the A141 and a ban on right-hand turns into or out of King's Ripton Road. The action group had hoped at least for a light-controlled crossing.

She said: "This piece of concrete in the road is not going to make the road safer, neither is the ban on right-hand turns. We were disappointed earlier that the county council would not put warning signs up, so we put them up ourselves.

"We know we have the people of Huntingdon behind us. I still don't think Cambridgeshire County Council or the district council appreciate what has happened and the effect on the community."

Mrs Hay told the committee as it made its decision: "You have had 20 years to do something and you have killed my son. You should put all the money together and do the job properly."

The traffic island plan was condemned by Lord De Ramsey whose estate adjoins the road and who has offered to give land for a footpath to the bridge.

Lord De Ramsey told The Hunts Post: "There is no practical reason why a bridge cannot be built to ensure the safety of our young sports players. Anything less and the authorities are saying 'We don't care about their safety'".

A spokesman for CCC said: "We would welcome any additional funding and we are looking towards an improved scheme with a traffic light-controlled crossing. We have fast-tracked this scheme so it is a year ahead of where it would have been."

INFORMATION: Donations for the footbridge can be left at the offices of The Hunts Post in Huntingdon High Street. Make out cheques to The Warren Hay Action Group.