By Roddy AshworthTHE family of a 13-year-old boy killed in a road accident in front of horrified schoolmates have paid tribute to their son.Tomas Wren was crossing a road outside Great Baddow High School when he was in collision with a motorcycle being ridden by another pupil.

By Roddy Ashworth

THE family of a 13-year-old boy killed in a road accident in front of horrified schoolmates have paid tribute to their son.

Tomas Wren was crossing a road outside Great Baddow High School when he was in collision with a motorcycle being ridden by another pupil.

He was with a group of friends leaving the Dorset Avenue school at about 3.30pm on Monday when the collision happened.

Tomas, who was the youngest of seven children, lived with his mother, father and sister, Mary Lisa, in Watchouse Road, Galleywood.

The teenager - a keen sportsman who enjoyed rugby - was a popular schoolboy at Great Baddow High School and his fellow pupils were being comforted yesterday by staff and counsellors.

A statement issued by his family described Tomas as a charismatic, polite young man whose ambition was to become a landscape gardener.

“To our blue-eyed boy with the golden hair, Thomas A Wren - we love you and we already miss you like crazy. Thanks you for our time together and we hope to see you again,” it said.

Mary Lisa added her brother had been a “real charmer” and said: “You could never be mad at him.”

Roger Hunton, headteacher of Great Baddow High School, said special assemblies had been held so all pupils were aware of Tomas' death and added counselling was available if they needed it.

“Tomas was a lovely boy. He was bright, intelligent, optimistic and always full of energy,” said Mr Hunton.

“We have told the children at the school we need to be like a big family - we need to be caring towards each other.

“There were at least a dozen children that witnessed what was happening - if not the initial impact, then what happened afterwards.

“They were waiting for a bus. It has been very traumatic. It is not easy, but we are trying our best.”

Mr Hunton added his thoughts were also with the rider of the motorcycle, a 17-year-old sixth-former at the school.

“He is in shock. He thinks he has gone to hell and back. He has his A-levels coming up,” he said.

“We have all got to keep on. We have got to think about what makes us what we are. We have got to support each other and look after each other because that is what we do.”

Tomas' family expressed their thanks to relatives and friends and also the emergency services who battled to save the teenager's life after the accident.

n The 17-year-old motorcycle rider, who comes from the Chelmsford area, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and later released on police bail until June 17.

roddy.ashworth@eadt.co.uk