Parents' heartache at double deaths

A couple yesterday spoke of their agony at losing two of their four young children within hours in a double tragedy.

Angela Bretherton, 26, lost her four-year-old son, Jamie, when he was run down by a hit-and-run driver on a pedestrian crossing in Toxteth, Liverpool, on Monday. Hours later her eight-week-old son, Anthony, was rushed to hospital and died of suspected meningitis.

A deeply distraught Mrs Bretherton, from Toxteth, sat with her estranged husband, Tony Dobson, at her side as they both spoke of their nightmare.

Mrs Bretherton said her only comfort was in knowing that Jamie's organs had been donated to help safe the life of another child.

The driver of the BMW that struck him as he crossed the road with a baby- sitter and three other children did not stop, but a man was later interviewed about the incident. He was released pending inquiries but police said they were not seeking anyone else.

Mrs Bretherton, who has daughters aged five and 18 months, said: "I want him to see what he has done to my family. I want to face him in court and know how he can run into three children on a zebra crossing when all the other cars stopped."