CAMPAIGNERS have won their fight for a pedestrian crossing at a junction where a 13-year-old girl was killed this week.

Residents had argued that children's lives were at risk every day at the junction of Albert Road and Longcauseway.

Two years ago a huge petition with 1,000 signatures, backed by Bolton MP Brian Iddon, was handed to Bolton Council,

The issue was raised again this week after Carla Bate was killed when she and a friend were mown down on Sunday night by a sports car which mounted the pavement after crashing with a parked car.

Now Town Hall bosses are taking action.

A spokeswoman for Bolton Council said that funding had been finally secured to pay for a crossing.

She said: "We have been aware of concerns relating to pedestrian facilities at this junction and have been seeking funding to carry out some work there.

"This has now been secured and work on the traffic lights, to provide a stage specifically for pedestrians, will be carried out in this financial year."

After Sunday's accident which killed Carla, her friend Leanne Keegan, also aged 13, is still in hospital after suffering serious head and pelvic injuries.

Grandmother Florence Fairhurst led the campaign for a crossing two years ago after her grandchildren were involved in an accident at the same junction.

She said: "The junction is an accident blackspot. Even adults don't like crossing that road, never mind children. When I heard about this week's accident I was devastated."

The junction, with two sets of lights, is crossed by many children every day to reach both Queen Street and St Peter's primary schools.

Farnworth councillor Noel Spencer said that a crossing was needed at the junction.

He added: "I think Sunay's accident shows that there is justification for it, although I'm not sure if a crossing would have helped these youngsters."