A 51-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 12-year-old boy was killed in a hit-and-run crash outside an Essex school.

Essex Police said the man has also been arrested on six counts of attempted murder and one of causing death by dangerous driving.

The child who died has been named locally as Harley Watson and floral tributes have been left for him at the gates of the school. A GoFundMe page has already raised almost £10,000 for his family.

The arrested man also faces charges including causing serious injury by driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and driving without insurance.

Four teenagers thought to be pupils at Debden Park High School in Loughton and a 23-year-old woman were also injured when the car ploughed into them.

Helen Gascoyne, the school’s head, said the community is “devastated” by the death of one of its students.

Officers had begun a manhunt as they tried to trace a silver Ford Ka, which is believed to have been damaged in the crash in Willingale Road.

Debden Park is a mixed academy school for pupils aged 11 to 18, which specialises in the performing arts and received a rating of “outstanding” in its most recent Ofsted inspection, according to its prospectus.

A statement from Gascoyne said: “As a school and a community we are devastated to say that as a result of the incident in Willingale Road this afternoon, it is with great sadness that we must report that a 12-year-old student from our school has sadly died.

“Our thoughts are with the family and all those affected. As a school we continue to work with the police supporting the ongoing investigation.

“The school will be open tomorrow with a number of counsellors on hand to support our community.”