Youngsters were still in shock yesterday after seeing a fellow pupil crushed under the wheels of a bus.

Kevin Bulman, 12, died after falling under the school bus which had just taken him to his home, in Houghton-le-Spring, at about 4pm on Monday.

Several of his schoolmates were treated for shock.

Kevin's mother, Janice, her partner, Mark, and Kevin's grandparents, Maureen and Dennis Bulman, rushed to the scene from their homes nearby after hearing of the accident.

Yesterday, Mrs Bulman was under sedation.

Kevin's aunt, Lesley Bulman, said: "The whole family is devastated. I believe he tripped and fell under the bus as he tried to step back on the kerb."

Kevin's sister Tanya, 13, was in another bus following his and was held up in the resulting traffic jam.

Some witnesses said Kevin was waving to his friends as he ran alongside the bus.

A youth waiting to get off at the next stop said that he and friends had hit the emergency button because Kevin's hand became caught in the door as he waved.

He is believed to have fallen under the wheels as the bus turned left, after he had run alongside it for several yards.

Bus driver Henry McDonald, who has worked on that route for three years, returned to work yesterday. He declined hospital treatment.

Kevin's headteacher at Houghton Kepier School, Sue Highland, paid tribute to the keen footballer, who moved to there from Barnwell Primary School, Houghton, last year.

She said: "We are all devastated by the news of Kevin's death. It is a dreadful tragedy.

"Many of the pupils were not coming into school today. We had calls from their parents to say they were too shocked or upset. My thoughts are with his family, particularly his sister, at this awful time."

She described Kevin as a "helpful young lad", and Kevin's head of year, Andree Ward, spoke of "his cheerful nature".

A spokesman for the bus company, Kingsley Coaches, said: "This is a terrible tragedy.