Toddler is killed as his father reverses over him in a 4x4

An 18-month-old boy died after he was run over by his father's 4x4 outside the family home.

Neil Lawson was reversing towards the driveway when he accidentally ran over his son Jake, trapping him under the wheels.

Neighbours heard a "blood-curdling scream" and moments later the grief-stricken father ran to a relative's house nearby with the child in his arms, shouting desperately for help.

Jake was given the kiss of life and airlifted to hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Police said the tragic accident happened at around 4pm on Thursday outside the family home in Kibblesworth, Gateshead.

Mr Lawson, 29, and his partner Julie Younger, a 24-year-old shop assistant, have been too shocked to speak about the accident even to close relatives. They also have a five-year-old son, Owen.

It is believed Mr Lawson, a former metal packer, had parked his Land Rover Freelander further down the street and was reversing towards the drive when Jake was run over. It is not known how the child left the house.

Jake's grandfather Alan Younger, 55, who lives five doors away, said: "Neil came running along the street with Jake in his arms shouting 'Alan I need help, Alan I need help!'

"The bairn had blood on his face and I think he was unconscious. I brought him into the house and laid him on the rug in the front room and I gave him mouth-to-mouth, the kiss of life, and I thought I brought him back."

He said the boy coughed up blood before he was put into a police helicopter and flown to Newcastle General Hospital.

"We don't know what happened. I haven't been able to talk to Neil, he is in too much of a state. It is like a bad dream, you just think you will wake up. We are devastated."

He added: "Jake was just starting to get on his feet, he's a lovely little thing."

Neighbour Brian Coulson, 70, said he was at home when he heard "a bloodcurdling scream from a child". Scroll down for more...

He said: "I rushed outside and I could still hear screaming and the dad shouting in shock. I could see that one side of his 4x4 was raised off the ground.

"When Neil returned home from work I often saw Jake running outside to greet him as he pulled on to the drive. The little lad really loved his dad and his dad's car.

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"They are a really nice family and have been good neighbours to me for five years. I can't imagine what they must be going through at the moment. The boy's dad was inconsolable, he looked a broken man."

A full inquest will be held later.