The death of a seven-year-old boy knocked over by a quad bike while playing on a North Yorkshire farm has left a rural community shocked.

James William Armstrong, of New Inn Farm, Hopperton, near Knaresborough, was playing with two friends when the accident happened on Tuesday afternoon.

He died in Leeds General Infirmary from severe brain injuries.

The popular youngster's lust for life has been remembered at his school, Kirk Hammerton Church of England Primary, where head teacher Brian Martin said his loss had left a huge void.

He said: "James was a lovely little boy who was very cheery and had loads and loads of friends. His death has been greeted with absolute disbelief at the school.

"It is terribly tragic and it leaves a great void, but children are children and the pupils here are dealing with it as best they can in their different ways.

"We are a very close, family-orientated school and hopefully that will show through at this trying time. My priority now is supporting the children and keeping the school going."

He said a quiet service was held at the school after the news had been heard."We had a very special service the morning we heard about the accident, and it really was special. You could hear a pin drop.

"There had to be a degree of care and thought about what was said because obviously the children are upset, but it was a lovely service and it made us realise that there was a huge void left by this accident. Our main task now is to be supportive of the children and try to keep things going on as normally as we possibly can."

Mr Martin remembered James, who had attended the school since he was four, as a youngster who showed a great enthusiasm for farming.

He said: "He had a great expertise about sheep and lambs, which was a wonderful thing about him.

"He came here as a little boy and he taught me so much about farming. I am certainly a lot richer for knowing him."

An inquest was opened and adjourned by Western North Yorkshire coroner Jeremy Cave yesterday.

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