A MINUTE'S silence is to be held in memory of six-year-old Leonie Shaw exactly a week after she died in an alleged hit-and-run accident.

Children will stage the tribute outside St Andrew's Primary School on Saturday, only yards from the Bishop Auckland bypass where the youngster was fatally injured.

One parent, Sharon Bell, from McCullagh Gardens, South Church, said the decision to hold the ceremony came from Leonie's schoolfriends. It will take place near the sea of flowers left at the scene of the tragedy.

Yesterday, Colin Meek, 34, appeared before Sedgefield magistrates charged with causing the death of Leonie by dangerous driving.

Meek is also accused of driving without insurance, failing to report an accident, failing to drive in accordance of a provisional licence and for not stopping after an accident.

He is charged jointly with girlfriend Emma Jane Lee, 21, with causing unnecessary suffering or injury to a child.

Lee is also charged with aiding and abetting failure to stop after an accident.

The couple, from Salvin Street in Spennymoor, were both remanded in custody until Monday.

* An inquest into Leonie's death will open at Bishop Auckland police station today at 3pm.