A 12-YEAR-old schoolboy was punched in the head moments before he died beneath the wheels of a double decker bus, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday.

A teenage witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told a jury that passenger Jamie Wells had first been prevented from getting off at his stop, and was then struck as he tried to leave the bus.

The teenager was giving evidence via a video link at the trial of bus driver Deborah White, 41, of Hollinside Road, Billingham, who denies causing the death of Jamie by dangerous driving on March 8, last year.

The witness described how Jamie, along with dozens of other pupils, boarded the number 24 bus in the Acklam area of Middlesbrough.

Many of those on the bus, she said, had been rowdy and some had opened the doors using the emergency handle.

She said Jamie was helped by an older girl to get to the front of the bus after he had been forced to miss his stop.

But as he struggled to the platform, she said he fell to his knees, and while holding on to a rail, was punched in the head by another schoolboy. He then fell on to the road and was run over by the bus.

Asked by Nicholas Campbell, prosecuting, why she had not told the bus driver what was going on, she said she didn't know.

The prosecution has argued that Ms White, by not ensuring that the bus doors were closed, drove dangerously and caused the death of Jamie.

Giving evidence yesterday, Ms White said that without the necessary override button, she was unable to close the doors from her cab and instead decided to continue to drive slowly, to get the children home.

The trial continues.