The scene on Bilsborough Hey yesterday afternoon (Picture: Lancs Live/Men Media)

An eight-year-old boy has died after being hit by a van in Lancashire.

Witnesses saw two air ambulances land near Bilsborough Hey in the town of Penwortham at around 4.20pm on Monday, August 1.

Paramedics rushed the boy to hospital where he was sadly pronounced dead.

An investigation has been launched following the crash, which involved a black Ford Transit.

Supt Gary Crowe, of Lancashire Police’s South Division, said: ‘First and foremost we send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the boy who died.

‘This was a heart-breaking incident and they will be in our thoughts for a very long time.

‘We also appreciate the impact this will have had on the wider community and we thank them for their understanding and patience while we carried out a meticulous analysis of the scene yesterday.

‘We are now determined to get answers about what occurred and are appealing for anybody with information to come forward. If you saw the collision, or saw either the boy or the van in the moments before it happened, please get in touch.

‘Similarly if you have dashcam or CCTV and have not yet spoken to officers, please contact us.’

His family are being supported by specially-trained officers at this awful time. 

A spokesperson from Lancashire Constabulary added: ‘Our thoughts are very much with his family, friends and the wider community as they come to terms with such a heart-breaking incident.’

Anybody with information on the incident has been asked to get in touch on 101, quoting log 971 of August 1.

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An investigation has been launched following the crash, which involved a black Ford Transit.