ANDOVER'S Vigo Infant School is mourning the tragic death of a six-year-old pupil who died following a collision with a minibus.

Ben Francis sustained serious head injuries after falling in front of the back wheel of a 25-seater minibus, as the bus was driving into the school drive at around 3.15pm on Monday.

He was taken to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, where he died shortly afterwards.

The tragic accident has taken 'a much loved son from Chris and Christine, and brother from Harry and Jack'.

In a statement the family said: "Ben was a fun-loving, generous, beautiful, energetic boy who will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew him. He will always be in our thoughts."

The family thanked the police, ambulance, school and hospital staff for all their help and for all they did to try to save Ben.

On Tuesday flowers were being laid outside the school entrance near the scene of the accident.

Headteacher Lyn Evans, said: "Everyone at Vigo Infant School is devastated by the death of Ben and our thoughts and condolences are with his family. We will all miss his lovely smiling face and bouncing personality; he was everybody's dear little friend. His death will be a loss to the whole school community."

She said specialist support teams were on hand to help pupils and staff come to terms with what has happened. "We are all remembering Ben - writing poems and prayers, drawing pictures and making cards, and we have an area dedicated to Ben where the children can go to share their thoughts.

"We're trying to let the children remember their good times with Ben and celebrate his tragically short, but lovely, life."

For the full story see Friday's Andover Advertiser.