Danny Wake death: Family tell of 'living nightmare'
The family of a three-year-old boy killed in a hit-and-run say they are enduring a "living nightmare" as police continue their hunt for the driver.
Danny Wake died in Darlington on Monday as he walked home from a shopping trip to pick up a Christmas catalogue so he could choose his presents.
His family said they were struggling to come to terms with the loss of their "beautiful little angel".
"We desperately need to know how and why this happened," they added.
"Since Monday morning we can only describe our lives as a living nightmare as we struggle to come to terms with the thought of never seeing our little boy again."
Danny was hit as he crossed Falmer Road on Monday morning while walking home from the shops with his mother Kayren Winter, younger brother and another child.
His family appealed directly to the "person who did this or who knows who did this" to come forward.
"Imagine if this was your little boy and how you'd be feeling, with this in mind please contact police urgently," they said.
Instead of looking forward Christmas, the family said they now had the "devastating task" of planning Danny's funeral.
A 24-year-old man arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving was released without charge and police have appealed for information about a specific vehicle.
A description of a light-coloured Mercedes Sprinter type van was issued on Thursday as detectives continue to analyse hundreds of hours of CCTV.
Ch Insp Ed Turner said he was "surprised" the driver involved had not yet come forward.