THE death of a three-year-old boy in a hit-and-run has left a Darlington community in shock. Hannah Bryan reports.

Elderly couples, young mums with pushchairs, children on their way home from school, shoppers weighed down with bags.

Wrapped up against the autumn chill, with heads bowed and many in tears, a community came together yesterday to pay tribute to Danny Wake.

A row of flowers, balloons and soft toys, brightly coloured against a bare brick wall on Falmer Road, where Monday's collision took place, grew steadily as the day went on.

A solitary candle was placed on the cracked, grey pavement between the many bouquets, surrounded by Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse teddies.

Some were left by close friends of Danny's family, others by complete strangers who had been touched by the tragedy and wanted to offer their sympathies.

Messages accompanying the flowers spoke of a "beautiful little boy" and described Danny as a "little angel".

"The whole town is in mourning. I can't put it into words how upsetting it is," said a tearful friend of Danny's mother, who did not want to be named.

"Everyone is absolutely devastated, he was such a handsome little lad. It really is awful."

The sense of sadness filled the air in the streets surrounding Falmer Road, and grown men and women - many of whom had never known Danny or his family - shed a tear while adding their tributes.

Police are still appealing for witnesses to Monday's collision, which took place at about 10.35am at the junction of Neasham Road and Falmer Road.

Officers have described Danny's death as "tragic" and have set up a dedicated incident room to investigate what happened.

Samantha Smith, who works in the Rowlands Pharmacy, near the scene of the collision, said the circumstances had shocked the whole community.

"People coming in have been saying they're staying awake all night as they're worried for their kids," she said.

"There is a lot of sadness around today."

*Anyone who witnessed Monday's collision or has any information is asked to call Durham Police on 101