A speeding BMW driver knocked down and killed a seven-year-old boy who had followed a pal across the road for a drink of water.

David Josh Cameron, seven, was hit as he crossed a pedestrian crossing on his pushbike as his horrified friends looked on.

The youngster had been playing with a group of mates near his home when one boy crossed Stamfordham Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, to pop home for a drink.

David followed and was almost at the other side when he was hit by Mark Tye, 22, in a silver BMW bearing the private number plate M19 TYE.

Tye, of Chapel Park, Newcastle, admitted causing death by dangerous driving during a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court.

The court heard how Tye had zig-zagged past other cars while travelling at least 61mph on a 40mph zone.

And despite the flash numberplates on his BMW, the vehicle was not roadworthy due to defective tyres and brakes.

Prosecutor Julian Smith told the court: "One witness saw the BMW get to the crossing and indeed brake very hard. "She saw lots of tyre smoke and heard the screaching of the tyres.

"It was all too late and to no avail. David was struck, thrown into the air and over the car, landing in the road behind.

"His pushbike was thrown aside."

The court heard how after the accident Tye ran up to David as he lay dying and urged: "Come on, come on, get up."

Despite efforts from passers-by to save him David was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at hospital.

Doctors confirmed his death would have been virtually instantaneous.

Abbie Hodgson, nine, who was one of the group who David had been playing with, raced home to tell his mother Debbie, 34, what had happened.

Debbie told yesterday how Tye was still at the scene when she arrived. She said: "Abbie came and told me what had happened so I obviously raced over.

"I noticed a man at the accident scene but obviously had more important things on my mind at the time.

"It was only when he started making court appearances I realised he was the one responsible."

Accident investigators confirmed that despite the dangerous state of the BMW, the defects were not responsible for the accident.

Mr Smith added: "The cause of the accident was the dangerous manner of driving, in carrying out combined overtaking followed by undertaking, followed by him moving to the outside lane before impact, and the high speed of the vehicle at the time."

Debbie and David's father David, 41, have been in court surrounded by family and friends at every hearing.

Speaking after Tye admitted his guilt, dad David, a roadwork supervisor,

said: "It is good and bad.

"Good because he has accepted responsibility for what happened but bad because the guilty plea means his sentence will be reduced.

"It is good he is going to prison but that still brings no comfort to us."

Debbie, a childminder, added: "This has been hell on earth for us, it just hasn't got any easier.

"We hope he goes to prison for as long as possible but I doubt it will be that long. It should be a life for a life.

"I have to drive past the spot where my son was killed virtually ever day.

"I'm still getting flashbacks and I can't picture my son's face unless I'm looking at his picture because every time I try I just see these horrible images of what happened.

"David was only trying to cross the crossing because he was following his friend who was going home for a drink.

"If they had come back to my house for a drink they would not have needed to cross the road and none of this would have happened." The couple have another child, a daughter who is four.

David added: "She still talks to him and talks of him.

"She obviously misses him and realises he is not there anymore but she doesn't really understand what has happened.

"Since this has happened our bed is no longer our own because she wants to be in with us."

David had been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was young and needed to use a machine to help him breathe every day. He was a pupil at Hilton Primary School, in Blakelaw, where he was popular with his class mates.

Just eleven days before the tragedy David had enjoyed a family holiday in Lanzarote.

Investigations revealed David crossed the road at a time when the lights were on green to traffic.

Tye's barrister Christopher Knox said: "The picture which is given of David crossing the road is he was crossing the road because his friends had decided to go to the house of one of their number for a drink.

"He appears to have been behind them and he appears to have tried to catch up with them.

"It may well be it was because he wanted to catch up with his friends, he did not want to lose his friends, he crossed when the red man was still there."

Mr Knox added: "Mark Tye does accept responsibility for this dreadful accident.

"He bitterly regrets and will always have on his mind the death of that poor boy."

Mr Knox said Tye was a keen sportsman who hoped to coach youngsters in the future. Tye has no previous conviction and an unblemished driving record.

He has been remanded in custody overnight and will learn his fate at a sentencing hearing tommorow.