A SCHOOLBOY collapsed and died today while competing in a cross-country run, police said.

The 11-year-old, who has not been named, was running with friends at Heskin, near Chorley, Lancashire, when he fell ill.

A spokeswoman for Lancashire Constabulary said teachers had battled in vain to revive the youngster.

Emergency services were contacted and paramedics took the boy to the Royal Preston Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The spokeswoman said: "The ambulance service attended a report of a collapsed 11-year-old schoolboy who had been taking part in a supervised cross-country run at Heskin, Chorley.

"Teachers and paramedics provided medical treatment but despite these attempts to revive him he sadly died later at the Royal Preston Hospital.

"There are no suspicious circumstances and the death has been referred to the coroner."

Police said the boy would not be named until all his relatives had been contacted and informed of the death. Tweet