FOR the family of Danny Wake, not a day goes by without them talking about their little boy.

Exactly a year ago today (Tuesday, November 4) their lives changed forever when the three-year-old was hit by a vehicle while out walking in Darlington with his mother and younger brother.

Christmas was Danny’s favourite time of the year, and the family had been into town to pick up an Argos catalogue so he could choose his presents.

Despite an extensive police investigation, which saw more than 300 calls made to Durham Police and hundreds of hours of CCTV footage examined, the driver responsible for the youngster’s death has never been traced.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, his mother Kayren Winter said the past year had been a blur, made so much harder by not knowing what happened to her little boy.

“It was just a normal day. Danny loved Christmas and the day before it happened I was clearing the front room for the tree,” she said.

“He was just a happy little boy - we still talk about him every day.”

For Kayren, 25, his death was particularly distressing as she had only recently found out she was six weeks pregnant with her third son, Roman.

In the weeks following the tragedy, Danny’s two-year-old brother, Georgie, also struggled to understand what had happened to his big brother and his behaviour deteriorated.

“The first time we came home he went to Danny’s bedroom, looked in and then closed the door, as if to say he isn’t there anymore. He seemed really frustrated,” said Kayren.

“Georgie didn’t really understand what had happened at the time, but now he can talk we can tell him and he understands.

“He talks about him all the time and he always wants to go to the cemetery where he is buried. If there is one day we can’t get there he always says we need to go.”

Danny, who lived in the Lascelles Park area of Darlington, was hit by a vehicle at about 10.35am near the junction of Neasham Road and Falmer Road on November 4 last year.

Despite repeated appeals, the driver of the vehicle has still not been traced, and his family urged anyone with any information to come forward to give them closure.

Detective Superintendent Kevin Weir, who is leading the investigation, added: "One year on from Danny’s tragic death I would like to continue to extend my deepest sympathies to Danny’s family.

“Despite a thorough investigation we have not been able to identify the driver of the vehicle that hit Danny and the inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death. Any new information received in relation to the incident will continue to be acted upon.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.

A two minute silence will be held at 10.35am today (Tuesday, November 4) at the junction of Neasham Road and Falmer Road.