Tribute paid to boy crash victim

Twelve-year-old Aarron Keeping was a keen cricketer

The family of a 12-year-old cyclist killed in a crash in Hampshire have said he was a keen sportsman whose "first love was cricket".

Aarron Keeping died in a collision with a car outside the Crown Inn in the village of Bransgore, close to the Dorset border, on 30 September.

"He packed a lot into 12 years with us all and never was one to sit still for more than five minutes," they said.

A 25-year-old man was arrested over the death and later bailed.

The family statement said: "A keen sportsman, Aarron was keen to join the school sport teams.

We will miss him so much Family statement

"His first love was cricket, and he joined Bransgore Cricket Club in 2005, when he was picked as Manager's Player of the Year.

Aarron was also a keen angler and had recently taken up shooting, the statement said.

"Another of his passions was BMX bikes, and he spent a lot of time with his friends at the new skate park in the village," his family continued.

"There always was something new to do or somewhere to go. We will miss him so much."

Villagers said they fought for safety improvements for 10 years

In the days after Aarron's death, villagers said they had been fighting for safety changes at the road junction for 10 years.

One parish councillor said many changes had been suggested but no action had ever been taken.

It later emerged the village was earmarked to have its speed limit reduced to 30mph (48.3km/h) next year.

New Forest District Council said the Hampshire Casualty Reduction Partnership would be looking at all the circumstances of the crash, as well as the accident history of the site, before deciding if remedial measures at the junction were appropriate.

The 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving.