'It seems as if Archie has just cycled right in front of the lorry. It's hellish'

Archie Dunbar had been cycling outside his family home in Muirfield Drive, Gullane, East Lothian, when police said he was knocked down at about 2pm. He died instantly.

Archie was due to start his second year at Gullane Primary, which is only a few hundred yards away from where the accident happened.

The boy's mother Michaela spoke briefly about her loss last night. In the family home, with husband Johnny by her side, she said: "Archie Dunbar was born on 24 October 2004 and today he is gone. He is just gone. That is all I want to say."

Mr Dunbar works as head chef at award-winning restaurant Ducks at Kilspindie in Aberlady, East Lothian.

Restaurant owner Malcolm Duck said: "Obviously all the staff are totally devastated. I'll be going round tonight to pass on my sympathies. I spoke to Johnny after it happened. He was as you would imagine him to be after what has happened. It's been a tragic accident."

A number of floral tributes were placed at the accident spot last night by neighbours and friends of the family.

After the road had been cleared, with the small red bike split in two by the accident removed at 6pm, Archie's father and older brother came out to look at the spot where he passed away.

Neighbour Nancy Stewart lives next door to the family. She saw Mr Dunbar just after the accident happened. She said: "He was hysterical when he came to tell me what had happened. It's so sad, he was a lovely wee boy and they are a lovely family. They also have a wee girl who is three years old and an older lad at the high school."

Archie's father was educated at Loretto School in Musselburgh and has worked at some of the UK's top eateries. He was formerly head chef at Archerfield Links golf clubhouse restaurant.

Another neighbour said that Archie had been out on his bike with a friend cycling in the street when the accident happened. He added: "It appears he has just cycled right in front of the lorry as it was coming down the road. It's a really busy street for traffic, heading to and from the school, but there are always kids playing outside.

"He was a typical wee boy, full of good humour, and could be a very sensitive wee lad as well. This will be hellish for everyone in the estate."

Residents last night said they had raised concerns about traffic on the modern estate, which lies to the south of Gullane Main Street and is a main route to the local primary school.

Neighbour, Katherine March, 39, said: "We've been trying to get the council and the police to do something about the amount of traffic on the road for some time. It's a real family area and there are always small children out playing on their bikes. It's very busy with traffic going to and from the school to make deliveries."

Police said it was too early to say how the accident happened, although there was nothing to indicate that the lorry had mounted the pavement or left the road. The lorry driver, who police have not named, was said to have been suffering from severe shock and was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.

Inspector Colin Shillito of Lothian and Borders road policing unit said: "We have not been able to take a proper statement from him yet. We won't have a clearer picture of what has happened until we speak to him.

"We don't know who he was working for but he has been a delivery driver. Unfortunately the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

"There were two boys playing on their bikes and the front left wheel of the lorry has gone over one of the boys. It is obviously very tragic."