A SEVEN-year-old boy has been killed in an accident involving two casrs after he darted out into the road.

Peter Hope died after being hit by the cars as he made his way to play with his best friend, near his home in Wallsend, North Tyneside.

The youngster was hit by a Citroen, and then thrown into the path of a Ford Escort travelling in the opposite direction.

His mother, Julie Hope, 34, said: "He was running over to his friend Natalie's house just around the corner.

"Her had only been gone a couple of minutes when Natalie's mother ran and told us Peter had been hit by a car.

"He died immediately - although I didn't know that. It was only when a friend started feeling for a pulse that I knew.

"I don't think it's really sunk it yet. I've been to see him in the chapel of rest twice already but he just looks as if he is asleep."

Peter father's, David, 32, a mechanic, said: "The kids around here loved Peter - they nicknamed him Pizza and would shout whenever they saw him.

"They have all been crying since it happened and some have put teddy bears and flowers on the sport where it happened.

"He was so lively and energetic. He just loved to be outdoors all the time, playing football or just running around with his friends.

"If he had been naughty, you could take his toys and his sweets away, but you couldn't keep him from going out.

"Keeping him in was the worst thing you could do - he would go mad."

The couple have two other children, nine-year-old David and Rees, who is 16 months