Section of M-way fence 'may have been removed'

[Hyperlithe]

Fencing around a motorway where two young boys were killed may have been removed or vandalised, it has emerged.

Kieran Coupe, seven, and six-year-old Guy Davies, were killed on Wednesday night after wandering on to the M56 close to their homes in Runcorn, Cheshire.

Cheshire police has informed the Health and Safety Executive over the youngsters' deaths.

Kieran's father Colin Lambert, 31, had already blamed a lack of fencing and danger signs around the area for the tragedy.

It has now emerged that a section of fencing close to the scene may have been taken down, possibly as part of maintenance works.

A spokeswoman for Cheshire Police said: "We are looking at every possible route the children may have taken as part of our inquiry for the Coroner.

"Many witnesses have come forward and we are focusing our attention on taking statements.

"Fencing, or lack of fencing, will be one of the lines of inquiry and for that reason we will liaise with the Health and Safety Executive."

A HSE spokesman added: "We have been informed by the police that there may be a section of fence missing. We are waiting for the police to establish where the fence was and how far it was from the motorway.

"It is by no means clear at this stage that the fence was removed as part of works, it may have been vandalised or something like that."

Is anyone else wondering what two little lads of 6 and 7 were doing wandering about by themselves? And why their parents hadn't taught them that moving cars equals danger?

[jabcrosshook]

My parents wouldn't allow it now.

[SINGLENURSE]

First thng I said to my friend what the F***K was a 6 & 7 year old doing playing in the woods let alone near a Motorway & in the Dark.. In my Local Paper the Dad of the 7 year old said last time he had seen the boys was at 2.30 pm & by 5pm when he still had not seen them he decided to get neighbours to help him find them .The thing is the 7 year old had only lived in that Area for 8 weeks so for that reason alone he should not have been left to roam around the neighbourhood. The Dad & the other childs parents should be prosecuted for letting them roam around .My Boys were never allowed out at that age I didnt care how many mates they had round to play in the house as long as they were not wondering around & Certainly not in the dark not even in our own garden when dark.

[jabcrosshook]

Well when I was about that age at a weekend I'd get up about 6 am, have breakfast, watch saturday morning kids tv, be out of the houe by 9am in my football kit, down to the park and me and my mates would be there until 8pm at night, until my Dad came and got me and told me off for being late, but I'd still do it every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but then I suppose it depends on where you love, I lived in a village with one main road which wasn't busy and it was bang right next door to RAF Cranwell, so I suppose it was generally a safe area with the never ending patrols of RAF Police.

[Hyperlithe]

You lived in Cranwell village? Bless!

I was allowed to go round to play at my friends' houses, but we weren't allowed down to the park on our own until we were about 9 or 10. That was a sleepy little village in Somerset, you'd see 4 cars a day on the main road on busy days!

[Alfa]

I'm sure both lads parents are blaming themselves more than anyone else is.

Fact is they went out in the daytime to play and ended up getting lost and couldn't find their way back, should the parents have kept a better eye on them? Yes they should have, but at the end of the day you can't wrap children up in cotton wool and young lads have always been adventurous.

The thing to remember here is that the only reason they were out on their own in the dark at that time of night is because they were lost NOT because they were allowed to roam around where ever or whenever they liked.

It was a terrible tragedy lets not add to the families grief by slagging them off, mistakes happen, they will have to live with it for the rest of their lives. I doubt anyone who's a parent is perfect and has never taken their eyes off their children for a second it's just that 99% of the time thankfully nothing bad happens.

As for talk of prosecuting the parents, get a grip will you this wasn't an act of neglect it was a tragic accident, they'll be suffering enough as it is.

[SINGLENURSE]

Alfa I have to disagree with you These two boys were in Infant school & should not have been let out to play unsupervised ..

[jabcrosshook]

You lived in Cranwell village? Bless!

I was allowed to go round to play at my friends' houses, but we weren't allowed down to the park on our own until we were about 9 or 10. That was a sleepy little village in Somerset, you'd see 4 cars a day on the main road on busy days!

Yeh it was mega back in the day.