Eleven-year-old schoolboy Sam O'Dell died as a result of a tragic accident on Hardenhuish Lane, an inquest has heard.

The Corham School pupil was heading out to play in the woods with two friends when he was struck by a van and killed.

The inquest, which was held at Trowbridge Town Hall, heard evidence from witnesses which confirmed Sam crossed the road shortly after his two 11-year-old friends had made it safely to the other side.

Stephen Seagrave, who was working as an electrician in Hardenhuish Lane at the time, described driving towards the scene of the accident.

He said: "I saw three boys walking along the grass verge.

"Two ran across together then Sam went a few moments later. I don't know if he looked or not.

"Then I saw the collision. It was instant. He did not have a chance to stop."

The inquest heard that Sam was hit by a yellow VW caddy van being driven by John Butler, of Potterne Road, Devizes.

Mr Butler, a security officer, had called his works office on his handsfree mobile phone to let them know he was on his way to his next job. He had finished the call before crossing a mini roundabout on Hardenhuish Lane.

Reading from Mr Butlers police statement, PC Phillip Salsbury confirmed the driver was heading downhill on Hardenhuish Lane when the accident happened shortly before 5pm on February 26, 2007.

His statement read: "He came out across in front of me. I had no chance of stopping."

Eye-witness Deborah Clark, of Chippenham, also described seeing three boys chatting and laughing beside the side of the road, near a traffic island, before hearing a loud bang as Sam was hit and thrown into the air.

The inquest heard how several vehicles stopped to help Sam, with one man attempting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Meanwhile, the boys friends, who cannot be named for legal reasons, returned to try and help Sam.

In a statement to the police, one of the boys said: "We both went over to him and I held his hand. A police lady came and then mum came in the car. We stayed in the car listening, with our fingers crossed. The police came and shut the road off. They put Sam in a holdy thingy and took him to the helicopter, then he got the helicopter to hospital."

Wiltshire Coroner David Masters confirmed Sam died of injuries sustained as a result of the collision.

PC Salsbury, of Chippenham Roads Policing and Investigation, told the court that he believed Mr Butler to be travelling between 29 and 34mph. He also confirmed Mr Butler passed a breath test and was believed to have not been using a handsfree mobile phone at the time of the accident.

Sam, who played guitar, was also revealed to be far-sighted and was said to be wearing his glasses at the time of the accident as they were found underneath the van.

Mr Masters recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He reiterated a section of the friend's statement which read: "I knew he could not make it. I don't know if he actually saw the van or if he was looking at something else or if he was daydreaming but he usually knows when to cross the road."

Mr Masters also said he would recommend that Wiltshire County Council review the traffic regulations on Hardenhuish Lane and consider lowering the speed limit to 20mph or installing flashing signs to warn people of children crossing.He added: "t does concern me to learn that there are limited safety measures in a place where we have two schools. It might be useful to review the speed limit and I intend to take that further with the appropriate authority."