A CLOSE-knit Dorset community is in shock today following the death of a six-year-old boy at a quad bike centre in Devon.

Craig Farwell died after being struck by a car which ploughed into the car park of Quad World between Cullompton and Exeter.

The accident happened after two cars collided on the B3181 outside the attraction at lunchtime on Sunday (August 15).

One of the cars left the road and careered through the car park, before hitting Craig who had been watching the action on the track with his parents Nick and Sue and brother Michael, aged 11.

Proprietor of Quad World, Stuart Lawson, said: "It was like a train being derailed. The car sped off the road and came into the car park sideways. It clipped a couple of parked cars before it hit the little boy.

"Everyone was running and screaming. It was horrific."

Mr Lawson said the family had ridden the quad bikes in the morning and were having a break beside their car when the tragedy struck.

Mr and Mrs Farwell run a camping site at Horton Heath, near Wimborne, and Mr Farwell is a well-known thatcher and craftsman in the area.

Yesterday they were being comforted by relatives.

Mr Farwell's mother Betty said: "We are all just devastated."

Neighbours spoke of their "complete shock" at the news and paid tribute to little Craig, who attended Hayeswood First School at Colehill.

Heather Wright said: "He was a happy, lively little boy and we just can't believe what's happened. He and Michael were often over here playing with our children."

And Jane Dowding, who also lives nearby, added: "The family are well known in the area. They work so hard and don't go away very often which makes it even more tragic."

Meanwhile, Mr Lawson revealed he had been calling for speed restrictions on the road outside the quad centre for the past six years.

He said: "This road has got faster and faster. It is a perfect road for speed, dead straight and people do up to 160mph down there.

"We have asked several times for chevrons in the road to acknowledge the fact that there is a tourism centre here."

Onlookers tried to resuscitate the boy at the scene but he later died at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

First published: August 17