The family of a schoolboy who tragically died after being involved in a crash with a bus have paid tribute to their "beautiful boy with an infectious smile".
Mason French was riding his bicycle on Lizard Lane in Whitburn last year when he was hit by a bus after cycling out of a concealed junction that had reduced visibility due to a stone wall and parked cars. Despite the bus driver acting in a "timely manner", 11-year-old Mason sustained fatal injuries in the collision.
On Thursday, an inquest held at Sunderland Coroner's Court concluded Mason died as a result of a road traffic collision, with a post-mortem finding his medical cause of death was a blunt head injury. Following the inquest, Mason's family and parents, Kay, 31, and Dean French, 28, shared memories of their much-loved boy.
