COUNCIL chiefs today promised a full investigation into how a car plunged on to a crowded Isle of Wight beach, killing a toddler playing on the sand.

Isle of Wight Council also said it would bring forward a health and safety review of all its facilities, including coastal car parks.

The pledge came after a tragedy at Yaverland Beach, Sandown Bay, on Saturday afternoon, in which two-year-old holidaymaker Maximillian Holden Young was killed.

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, the toddler had been on the beach with his family when a silver BMW 5-Series plunged between 10ft and 12ft down a slope and on to the sands.

The car, which had four people inside, struck the little boy and his father.

Maximillian later died of his injuries, while his 42-year-old dad suffered a broken pelvis. He was today in a stable condition in a London hospital.

Several witnesses have criticised the council for not installing safety barriers following a similar tragedy at nearby Shanklin last summer in which a holidaymaker was killed as he read on the beach.

Today Isle of Wight Council promised its health and safety officers would conduct a full internal investigation into how the tragedy happened.

Council leader Shirley Smart said: "We have a responsibility to ensure that health and safety arrangements in council car parks meet all legal requirements.

"The council is reviewing existing health and safety arrangements across all our facilities and will bring forward the review as it related to car parks next to the coast in the light of this tragedy.

"Accidents of this kind are rare. Safety of the public will always be one of the council's highest priorities."

A post-mortem examination was due to be carried out today.

It is understood the family, from Fulham, south London, had been holidaying on the Island when the incident happened about 4.35pm on Saturday.

Police said the BMW driver, a 44-year local man, had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and was later released on bail, pending further inquiries.

Officers today confirmed the driver had provided a negative breath test at the scene.

Police said it was not clear why the car had continued forward as it had approached a parking space, plunging over the edge and on to the beach below.