A seven-year-old boy killed in a suspected hit-and-run suffered fatal head injuries, an inquest had heard.

William Brown was struck by a van at Sandgate Esplanade near Folkestone on the evening of December 6, before colliding with another vehicle.

He had been playing football with friends prior to the crash when the ball went over a wall.

Katrina Hepburn, area coroner for Central and South East Kent, told the hearing this morning: "Normally the children would ask an adult to get the ball back but William decided to get it himself."

One of the other children rushed indoors to tell his mother what had happened.

The ambulance was called and paramedics struggled for more than 45 minutes to save William, who died at the scene.

Ms Hepburn said William suffered “catastrophic head injuries”, which were given as the cause of death.

Police said the fatal collision near the junction with Prospect Road involved two vehicles, a grey Peugeot van and a red Citroen car.

The van left the scene in the direction of Hythe, before the arrival of emergency services.

Ms Hepburn suspended the inquest, held at Oakwood House, Maidstone because of possible criminal proceedings over the collision.

The day after William died his father William Sr paid tribute to him saying: “My boy was a kind and pure soul.

“He was liked by everybody – everybody loved him. He was just full of life, laughter, love. He was always smiling.”

A 49-year-old man was arrested in Dymchurch within 24 hours of the tragedy.

He was questioned by detectives on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and perverting the course of justice.

He is on bail until March 6.

The whole community has been invited to William’s funeral, with the date still to be confirmed.

That is expected to take place at the Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe, in Folkestone where a book of condolence was opened.

A fundraising page, launched by the youngster’s mum, to “give him the send-off he truly deserves” has reached more than £20,400.

Following the outpouring of donations, Ms Brown wrote: “Thank you for all your support. We all feel it in our hearts.

“Whilst this tragedy is incomprehensible to us all, we need to do what William always did, see the positive.

“That positive is that we are so grateful for the seven glorious years we had with him. It was nothing but a privilege.

“Therefore, we ask that you help us in giving him the send-off he truly deserves.

“Please all share William's love and kindness, let's try and make planet Earth as joyous as his beautiful kind eyes saw it. Let's all take a moment to be kind to each other.”