A MOTHER who lost her nine-year-old son in a road crash demonstrated a remarkable act of compassion to the man who drove the car, in an emotional scene after an inquest.

Lorraine Goldsmith and Anthony Ellam cried in each other's arms in a heart-wrenching display of grief. It followed the recording of accidental death on Thomas Goldsmith, who died while out doing his newspaper round in Napier Road, Gillingham, just before 6pm on November 14 last year.

The youngster was seen by Catherine Sutton joking around with friends before suddenly deciding to cross the road.

Mrs Sutton said: "I came out of the shop and saw the lads and I thought 'Oh God he is going to run out'."

She saw Thomas run into the road without looking and at the same time was aware of a car moving towards him.

The inquest heard there was no way the driver Anthony Ellam could have avoided hitting Thomas, who died later at Medway Maritime Hospital of multiple injuries.

Mr Ellam, who estimated his speed to be around 20-25mph, found it difficult to control his emotions during his testimony. The 40-year-old was on his to pick up his daughter from stables at the bottom of Ash Tree Lane, when the accident happened.

He said: "I saw a parked red Rover car. I remember seeing Thomas. All I could see was his fair hair. I remember seeing him through the windscreen of the parked vehicle and obviously tried to brake and swerve out of the way but it was like he hit the front corner where the indicator was."

Coroner Roger Sykes asked Thomas' mother Lorraine Goldsmith if she had any questions but she said no.

After a few minutes of deliberation Mr Sykes said: "I'm satisfied that Thomas hadn't checked that it was safe to run into the road. He was seen at the last moment by the driver of an approaching car who had no time to take action. This was a very tragic accident and my conclusion is that Thomas died as a result of an accident."