Family's tears of happiness after finally winning their 13-year-old fight for a safe footpath from Lubenham to Harborough in memory of their son

The family of a youngster tragically killed as he biked to school are thrilled after winning their fight for a safe footpath from Lubenham to Market Harborough.

They have waged a tough 13-year battle to have the old railway line officially declared a path by the government following Adam Mugridge’s devastating death.

Adam’s mum and dad, Kate and David, are “ecstatic” after a planning inspector has finally backed their long, challenging campaign.

They have fought to set up the path in a bid to make sure their beloved son didn’t die in vain – and that no other village youngster would be killed as he was.

Emotional Kate said she broke down and wept when she was told they had won after campaigning over a decade.

“Adam was just 13 when he had his accident,” she said.

“There are 13 Adam’Smile trustees and it’s taken us 13 years to get this decision which I heard about on the 13th March!

“Nothing can bring Adam back to us, but it’s amazing that we now have a footpath in his memory for ever.”

Adam, 13, was cycling along the busy A4304 from his home in Lubenham to Harborough’s Welland Park Academy in September 2006 when the tragedy occurred.

The popular schoolboy died after falling from his bike into the path of a lorry – and his death rocked the tight-knit village of Lubenham.

Adam’s shattered family set up the Adam’Smile charity as they fought to create a traffic-free cycling and walking path from Lubenham to Harborough in his memory.

Kate and David and their many local supporters have had to take on stubborn landowners and bureaucrats time and again over the last 13 years.

They were delighted when Leicestershire County Council decided to mark the route as a footpath on the official maps in September 2018.

But the family, backed by Harborough MP Neil O’Brien and councillor Paul Bremner, suffered another bitter setback when a local landowner objected to the landmark decision.

A public enquiry was finally held into the furore last November and the planning inspector has thrown their weight behind the courageous Mugridges.

David, Adam’s dad, said: “I want to thank all of the trustees for supporting Kate, our daughter Lucie and me throughout this campaign.

“I also want to thank the hundreds of people and organisations who have donated to Adam’Smile.”

The charity has raked in over £140,000 to fund the proposed countryside cycling route.

“The next step is to speak to Leicestershire County Council to see how we can get the footpath changed to a cycle path,” said David.

“And all those donations will really help us achieve that goal.”

Harborough MP Neil O’Brien, who has backed the crusade, said: “This is fantastic news.

“Adam’s mum and dad have fought brilliantly over the last 13-14 years to have this route declared a footpath.

“They and their supporters deserve a massive pat on the back.

“I know the old railway line well and it’s absolutely gorgeous.

“Creating this path – and all being well a cycleway – will encourage more and more families to enjoy the many delights of our beautiful local countryside.

“And, equally critically, children will be able to walk to school in Market Harborough from Lubenham perfectly safely.”