Siblings killed by a car while riding e-scooter

Darcie and Roman Casselden died after being struck by a car near Basildon in Essex

A teenage boy and his nine-year-old sister were fatally struck by a car while riding an e-scooter, an inquest heard.

Siblings Roman, 16, and Darcie Casselden each died from a "traumatic head injury" at the scene in Pitsea, near Basildon in Essex, on 1 February.

Opening an inquest into their deaths, area coroner Michelle Brown said: "They were very, very young and these were tragic circumstances."

A man and a woman, both in their 20s, were arrested in connection with the deaths, which happened on Ashlyns at about 18:25 GMT.

Ms Brown told the hearing at Essex Coroner's Court that Roman and Darcie were struck by a car while travelling on an e-scooter near the Stokefelde junction with Ashlyns.

They died at the scene and were identified by their mother, the court heard.

More than £30,000 has been raised to support Roman and Darcie's family

Ms Brown said the cause of their deaths was provisional and was pending further investigation by Essex Police.

The force said the arrested man had been released under investigation and the woman had been bailed until 4 April.

Concluding the brief hearing, Ms Brown said: "I would just like to extend my personal sympathies."

Roman and Darcie's mother, Emma, said the children were her "beautiful angels" in a tribute shared after their deaths.

She said Roman had a "heart of gold" and Darcie "was a soul filled with creativity and beauty".

A fundraiser launched to support the family has received more than £30,000 in donations.

The crash took place on Ashlyns, a residential road in Pitsea, near Basildon in Essex