The driver of a lorry has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving after an eight-year-old boy was killed in a crash near Cambridge.

Lorry driver Michael Coombes, 62, of Stowmarket, Suffolk, collided with a car driven by William Elbrow's father.

William and his family, of Thrapston, Northamptonshire, were travelling to the seaside for a weekend break at the time of the accident in May 2007.

Coombes, convicted at Cambridge Crown Court, will be sentenced on 17 October.

'Devastated by death'

Simon Elbrow, 38, was seriously injured in the crash on the A14.

William's six-year-old brother and three-year-old sister also suffered minor injuries.

The court heard Coombes' lorry smashed into the family's Mitsubishi 4x4 after failing to notice it was slowing down behind other traffic.

Since William's death, his family and friends have raised more than £10,000 for road safety charity Brake.

His mother, Louise Elbrow, said: "The whole family has been devastated by his death, we miss him so desperately.

"We set out as a happy family of five looking forward to a fun holiday with our friends.

"Within an hour of setting out, William was dead and our lives were instantly shattered."

Following the verdict, senior investigating officer Sgt Lyndon Pickston said: "Coombes has done everything in his power to avoid conviction, refusing to accept his guilt and putting members of William's family through the ordeal of the trial.

"My thoughts are now with William's family."

Source BBC News