Wareham lorry crash on pedestrian crossing kills boy, 3 Published duration 29 March 2018

image copyright Lee Dolbear image caption The boy was crossing the road with his family when he was struck by the lorry

A three-year-old boy has died after he was hit by an articulated lorry on a pedestrian crossing in Dorset.

He was crossing the road on a balance bicycle with his family at about 08:40 BST when he was struck by the lorry in North Street in Wareham.

The boy sustained serious injuries and was taken to Dorset County Hospital, where he died a short time later.

The Sainsbury's lorry driver, a 43-year-old man from Basingstoke, is being held on suspicion of driving offences.

image caption Floral tributes have been left on a bench near the crossing

Members of the public have been leaving flowers and messages on a bench near the pelican crossing.

Inspector Matt Butler said police were trying to establish what colour the traffic signals were showing when the boy was hit.

Asked how the boy's family was coping, he said: "To be honest, I don't think they are. I don't think any family would cope.

"It really is a horrible, horrible incident. This family are facing the most horrid time of their lives."

He appealed for drivers in the area, particularly those with dashcam footage from the scene, to contact the police.

image caption Sainsbury's director Simon Roberts expressed his "deepest sympathies" to the boy's family

Sainsbury's retail and operations director Simon Roberts visited the scene during the afternoon.

He said: "All our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to, of course, the family on their loss. And our first priority is to fully support the police in their investigation."

Mike Coupe, Sainsbury's chief executive, said in a statement: "This is an absolute tragedy and we will do everything we can to support the family."

North Street has been reopened after being closed between the junction with West Street and the roundabout at the junction with the A351.