A driver has been cleared of any blame after a boy died while trying to jump on board a moving school bus.

Clacton County High School pupil Reece Straight, 12, died of multiple injuries after falling under the wheel of a double-decker bus.

An inquest at Weeley on Wednesday heard that Reece's actions "contravened all common sense" but the bus driver was equally not to blame. A verdict of accidental death was recorded.

PC Nick Waltham, coroner's officer for Tendring, said: "It appears Reece got on to the bus but then got off to look for a friend.

"The bus then left the school and as it approached the junction of Vista Road and Recreation Road, Reece was seen to run after the bus and attempt to open the closed door of the moving bus."

Essex Coroner Dr Malcolm Weir said Reece had not been irresponsible and everyone had done something similar when young.

He added the bus was driven in a "perfectly normal and correct manner".

The inquest heard Reece was holding on to the bus with his left hand and reaching for a switch which would open the door with his right when he fell.

Bus driver Roy Stribling, of London Road, Clacton, said the first he knew of a problem was when children shouted at him to stop and he then felt a bump.

Student Elliot Spink, of Clacton, said: "As the bus turned slowly left into Vista Road I saw Reece sprinting up towards the bus. I saw Reece catch the bus up, he was trying to turn the emergency door open.

"I saw Reece slip over, I thought he had fallen into the road."

Joyce Hardman, Reece's mother, questioned why no-one had seen Reece in trouble sooner.

But Mr Weir said: "Reece has tried to get on the bus when he should not have done. The evidence is nobody has done anything they should not have done and the tragic result is what happened."

As a result of the tragedy, a campaign was launched to get escorts back on school buses.

Essex County Council has reviewed the situation and has said it would wait for the result of the inquest before making any decision.

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