A schoolboy who killed in a hit and run outside his secondary school died from a severe head injury an inquest heard.

Harley, 12, from Loughton, died just 80 minutes at Whipps Cross University Hospital after being struck by a vehicle near Debden Park High School, Willingale Road on Monday, December 2.

The Year 8 student was pronounced dead at 4:43pm, the coroners’ court in Chelmsford was told today (Tuesday, December 10).

Terence Glover, 51, of Newmans Lane, Loughton, has been charged with Harley's murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and dangerous driving.

The attempted murder charges relate to 23-year-old Raquel Jimeno and six boys and three girls aged between 12 and 16 who cannot be named for legal reasons.

A provisonsial date for the trial has been set for June 1, 2020, following a preliminary hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday (Monday, December 9).

Glover who is being kept in custody at Chelmsford prison, will next appear in court for a plea hearing on January 31, 2020.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Terence Glover appeared via video link for a preliminary hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday (Monday, December 9)

At a two-minute inquest opening, Essex coroner's officer Lynsey Chaffe said that post-mortem examination at St Thomas' Hospital on Friday, December 6, gave Harley's provisional medical cause of death as a severe head injury.

Essex senior coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray asked for "the court's sympathy be expressed to Harley's family at this very difficult time" and adjourned the inquest.

No date was given to reopen the inquest.

Harley's family said in a statement released through Essex Police that they were 'devastated by what has happened' and described him as a 'good, kind, helpful and lovely boy'.

A GoFundMe page set up in Harley’s memory has raised over £58,000 since launching a day after the tragic incident. Click here to make a donation.