Father and son from Darlington had been driving vintage steamroller around Beamish Museum in Co Durham

A young steam engine fan was crushed to death after riding on an engine with his father, an inquest has heard.

Karl Doran, seven, was volunteering with his father Phillip at Beamish Museum, Stanley, Co Durham. The father and son, from Darlington, had been driving a vintage steamroller around for visitors to see and had also attached a trailer to the back. But as Karl was standing on the tow bar as his father drove the engine, a position described in the inquest as a dangerous place, he came off and was crushed to death.

Detective Chief Inspector Victoria Fuller, from Durham Constabulary, said the pair had been helping other volunteers work on the engines before setting off around the site in July last year.

After instructing the jury to deliver a verdict of accidental death, the coroner, Andrew Tweddle, said it was a tragic case. PA