A FATHER has told how a Halloween game of trick-or-treat ended in tragedy when his four-year-old son was killed in a road accident.

Luke Donaldson, of The Crescent, Chester-le-Street, was killed while enjoying Halloween with his dad, Thomas, two older brothers and his sister.

Mr Donaldson, 53, described how his youngest son was struck by a red Mercedes van after he ran across the road to see his two brothers. He was initially knocked unconscious by the collision, but came to briefly to ask for his mother, before again slipping into unconsciousness.

Following the accident in Waldridge Road, Chester-le-Street, at 6.30pm on Tuesday, he was pronounced dead at Dryburn Hospital, Durham, just before 11pm.

Mr Donaldson, still suffering from shock, said: "I can't believe that this could happen when you just take the kids out trick-or-treating.

"I had taken them out to knock on a few doors and his two brothers had crossed Waldridge Road towards some houses.

"Luke was a lovely lad who always did what he was told, so when he wanted to go across the road I told him to stay here and I thought he would. But when I turned round for a second he started to run across the road. I tried to grab him but I just missed him.

"He was about one step away from the opposite pavement when he was hit by the van. By the time I got there, Luke was lying under the van so I told the driver to reverse.

"He was unconscious, but then he woke up and grabbed hold of my hand, asking for his mam. He even got up for a minute and I thought he would be fine. But by the time his mam arrived he was lying on the ground again."

Paramedics tried to revive Luke at the scene and he was taken to Dryburn Hospital for treatment to his multiple injuries. His mother was by his side when he died.

Mr Donaldson said Luke, who had just started school at Red Rose Primary School, York Terrace, was 'a good-natured boy who is already badly missed by the other children'.

Martin Douglas, who lives yards away from the accident in Waldridge Road, said "It's terrible that someone should be killed like this."