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The parents of a boy killed by a lorry on a 'dangerous' zebra crossing have launched a campaign for traffic lights to be installed at the roundabout.

George Dennis, 11, died in hospital after being struck by the lorry at the Four Wantz roundabout in Ongar, Essex, at around 4.20pm on July 10.

The driver, a 48-year-old man from Derbyshire, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

George's family have now started a petition for a push-button traffic light crossing to be added to the roundabout, saying the existing zebra crossing needs to be replaced.

They said they wanted to 'help prevent another family from experiencing the devastating loss that ours has suffered'.

The family added that the Ongar community has been 'deeply affected' by George's death and the town 'no longer feels the same' without him.

His mother Emma said the schoolboy 'had his whole life ahead of him' and was a 'bright light in our lives'.

'He had the kindest heart, a cheeky smile, and a personality that was truly one of a kind. He was full of life, always making people laugh, and brought so much happiness to everyone who knew him,' she said.

George Dennis, 11, died earlier this month after a collision with a lorry just off a roundabout in Essex

His family have started an effort to have traffic lights installed at the roundabout (pictured) where the collision happened, saying the existing zebra crossing is not safe enough

George, who had two brothers and a sister, was preparing to leave primary school this month.

A 'devoted Tottenham Hotspur supporter', his mother said football brought him 'so much joy and happiness', adding he was 'always so passionate, shouting at the telly watching every game when his beloved Spurs scored'.

Emma continued: 'George was my world, my baby. From the day he was born, being a light in our lives, like all of our children he was so, so, so, so special.

'The pain of losing him is impossible to put into words, and we simply do not know how we will ever begin to heal as a family. Our lives have changed forever, and there will always be a space that can never be filled.'

A separate family statement calling for the crossing to be improved said: 'Nothing can bring George back but we believe his death must make meaningful change. No other family should have to endure this unimaginable heartbreak because a dangerous crossing was left unchanged.'

George, who his mother said was 'full of life' and a 'bright light in all our lives', had been due to finish primary school this month

Tributes including flowers and Tottenham Hotspur flags, of which George was a fan, were left at the roundabout after the boy's death earlier this month

'This road is too dangerous. The volume of traffic, particularly heavy goods vehicles travelling through Ongar, raises serious concerns. We believe there should also be restrictions on lorries using this route where appropriate alongside improvements to pedestrian safety.'

The family said they want 'action now' and for 'George's name and legacy to live on by helping to prevent future tragedies'.

'As a community we owe that to George. We owe it to every child, every family and everyone who uses this crossing,' they said.

Alex Burghart, the Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar, said he was 'shocked and saddened' by George's death and supported the family's petition.

He said he had contacted Essex County Council to ask for 'urgent consideration' to be given to changing the crossing.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said the authority was 'extremely sorry' to hear of George's death and sent its 'deepest condolences'.

The spokesman added there would be a 'full investigation' which would include reviewing the past decade of collision data in the area to find any trends.