Harley Watson, 12, 'died of severe head injury' in a hit-and-run outside school in Essex, inquest hears

A 12-year-old boy killed in a hit-and-run outside his school in Essex died of a severe head injury, an inquest has heard.

Harley Watson died at Whipps Cross University Hospital in east London after a vehicle hit children who were leaving Debden Park High School in Loughton last week.

Essex coroner's officer Lynsey Chaffe, speaking at the opening of an inquest into Harley's death, said the 12-year-old was hit by a vehicle in Willingale Road.

A post-mortem examination gave Harley's provisional cause of death as a severe head injury.

The two-minute hearing in Chelmsford was adjourned until a date to be fixed.

A 51-year-old man has been charged with murder over the incident. Terence Glover, of Newmans Lane, Loughton, is also charged with the attempted murder of a woman and nine children and of driving a Ford Ka dangerously in Willingale Road, Loughton.

The attempted murder charges relate to 23-year-old Raquel Jimeno and six boys and three girls aged between 12 and 16.

Glover has been remanded in custody and is next due to appear before Chelmsford Crown Court for a plea hearing on January 31.

Harley's family said in a statement released through Essex Police that they were "devastated by what has happened" and described him as a "good, kind, helpful and lovely boy".