COUNCIL chiefs say they have taken steps to improve the safety of flat roofs at schools across Bolton.

The move comes in the wake of the tragic death of a teenager who fell through a skylight.

Jamie Young-Patel, aged 16, died of head injuries after falling through the skylight of a roof of St Thomas' school on Molyneux Road, Westhoughton, in July last year.

Westhoughton High School pupil Jamie had climbed on to the roof with a friend to test a new pair of binoculars.

But he sat back on the plastic skylight and plunged to floor 10 feet below.

Simon Nelson, acting coroner, recorded a verdict of misadventure at an inquest into Jamie's death.

Following the hearing, Jamie's family, including separated parents Pankaj and Audrey Young-Patel, called for a national campaign to highlight the dangers of youngsters straying on to flat roofs and urged Bolton Council to take action.

A council spokesman said that, following Jamie's death, officers had contacted the Health and Safety Executive.

He said: "This is a problem which causes concern nationwide.

"Our own Health and Safety team has put together an advisory package about preventing access on to school premises.

"We advised them to make sure that gates and fences were secure and that notices about trespass were displayed on premises."

The council says schools have been urged to remove obvious points where roofs could be accessed, such as from bin areas, and to remove anything else giving easy access.

Schools have also been advised to use anti-vandal climbing paint where appropriate.

The spokesman added: "Separately from this the governors at St Thomas' completed a rolling programme of installing replacement skylights with heavier duty materials."

Jamie's uncle Anant Patel, speaking on behalf of the family, said they were pleased some action had been taken but more should be done to prevent further deaths.

He said: "This does not need guidelines it needs legislation at national level.

"There needs to be laws put in place that building owners would need to follow and these need to be enforced."

Jamie's mum's partner, Andrew Booth, said: "The most sensible thing to do would be to put a grill below the skylights in roofs that would stop someone falling if they went through the glass.

"Jamie was only nine-and-a-half stone, but he still went through so a measure like this would not cost very much and help to save lives."

Mr Patel added that they were now considering an approach to Westhoughton MP Ruth Kelly to take their plight to the House of Commons.