Detectives are still hunting a woman driver after an 11-year-old boy was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Bristol.

Sam Riddall, of Westbury Park, died when he was hit by a white Ford Focus estate in Eastfield Road, Westbury-on-Trym.

He had been walking home with three friends and a parent after an evening of football and games at the Albert Place church youth group at Henleaze and Westbury Community Church.

The car, which police said was coming from the Southmead direction, lost control and mounted the pavement before ploughing into five pedestrians and crashing into a row of parked cars.

It is thought to have been going so fast that the impact sheared the two front wheels off.

Sam was reportedly trapped under the car. Neighbours and paramedics fought to save his life, but he died later in hospital.

A man in the group, thought to be in his 50s and a parent of one of the boys, suffered minor injuries. He was later released from hospital after treatment. The three other boys in the group, all aged 11, were unhurt.

The female driver abandoned the car and fled the scene of the accident, which happened at 9.15pm on Friday night.

Local residents said she ran down the road opposite, Cote Lea Park, and towards an alleyway leading from Pinewood Close into a housing estate.

Unconfirmed reports from witnesses also suggest that there was a man in the car, who also ran away.

Police searched the area and dog handlers were brought in to follow her trail, but the woman is still on the run.

Detectives described her as being white, in her mid-30s, with long blonde hair, and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

It has not yet been confirmed whether the Ford Focus belonged to the woman or if it had been stolen.

Inspector Rob Pearson, from Avon and Somerset police's road policing department, said: "We would appreciate if any witnesses who saw the incident take place could come forward.

"If there are any witnesses who believe they know the whereabouts of this lady who was the driver of the car, or if anyone has any idea of who the driver of this vehicle is, they can get in touch with Avon and Somerset Constabulary or Crimestoppers.

"Clearly the family are absolutely devastated by this incident and we are very much thinking of them."

Yesterday Sam's devastated parents, Martin and Rachel, and their three sons, aged five, nine and 14, went to a morning church service to remember him, and were being comforted by friends and family.

Mr and Mrs Riddall told the Evening Post that Sam, who was known as "Sammie" to his friends and went to Redland Green School, was a "loveable and hugely popular" boy.

Mrs Riddall said: "Sam was a sociable, loveable 11-year-old who enjoyed playing football. He had many friends and enjoyed life to the full."

David Fisher, Sam's uncle and Mrs Riddall's brother, also said: "Rachel and Martin are devastated, and have a big hole in their lives.

"But there are lots of friends and family around to support them."

More than a dozen floral tributes were left at the scene in Eastfield Road.

Among the roses and bluebells were messages of condolence, comfort and reminders of fond memories.

One read: "A life too short, 'The Lord bless thee and give thee peace'. Numbers 6:24".

Another said: "Dear Sammie, thank you for being one of the friendliest and liveliest boys at Albert Place. You were fantastic at football and will be greatly missed. God bless you now, with love and prayers. From Chris and all at Albert's Place."

A third read: "Sam Riddall, you were the nicest, kindest boy I have ever met. No one will every be able to replace you, love Molly GB and Robyn xxx."

School friends of Sam's came to sit near the scene and pay their respects yesterday.

Mr and Mrs Riddall both work for the Agapé organisation, a Christian movement, at Bristol University and the University of the West of England.

A friend of the couple, who asked not to be named, said: "He was a lovely, lovely kid, one of the loveliest I have ever know.

"He was just so friendly and likeable, always cheerful and really active and outdoorsy.

"It is terrible, and we are all shocked. They were just on the pavement. They weren't playing football in the middle of the road, but they were doing the right thing.

"They were with an adult and being safe, and then this happens. It is just horrible."

Residents of Eastfield Road have told of their shock at the boy's death.

Joanne Yates, a 32-year-old teacher, was watching TV with her husband, Ben, when the accident happened.

Mrs Yates said: "We looked out and couldn't work out what was happening because there were so many cars.

"There were three parked cars, and the car that had been driven was on the pavement and had knocked one of the others out at an angle.

"At first we didn't know anyone was injured, but we saw the little boy was between the car and the pavement and one of the parked cars.

"I just hope they get them. What on earth would possess someone to run off if it is your own car?

"It is so horrible. They were a group of children coming back from a harmless, fun night out. They weren't doing anything wrong, they weren't messing about or vandalising anything, but were just walking home. It is sickening.

"I can only imagine that when the driver got out she panicked. She must have seen the little boy when she got out of the car. It is unimaginable how someone can't react to that. It is gutless."

Mr Yates, 32, a project manager, said drivers often came over the hill too fast and that his own car had been hit.

He said: "It is the second time in a year that a car has crashed into that same point. People absolutely fly down here."

Retired fireman Colston Willcox, 70, of Albert Place, said: "There ought to be a lower speed limit on that road.

"When we drive from here on to Eastfield Road we have to pull out really carefully because of the speed of the traffic. It wouldn't hurt to reduce the limit."

Another local resident, who did not want to give his name, said: "Drivers do come down here a bit quick.

"They come over the brow of the hill and can lose control. Occasionally we have had cars being hit but this is a very sad business."

A section of Eastfield Road was sealed off by police from Friday night until just after 8am on Saturday while forensic officers searched for evidence and crash investigators examined the scene.

Debris from the cars littered the road, and there were 50m tyre skid marks and deep grooves in the pavement from where the car had come over the brow of the hill and lost control.

A parked Ford Mondeo that was shunted in the accident was hit so hard that one of its disc brakes was sheared in two.

The car's owner, who asked not to be named, said his wife had picked up their son from the same church session that Sam had been to, and they were walking about 100m behind Sam's group when the accident happened.

He said: "My wife and son could have been with them, but had stopped to talk to someone.

"At 40mph you would have control over a car, at 50mph you would have control, but this was just uncontrollable.

"The woman driver who ran off is a scumbag."

Sam had been at the Albert Place youth group on Friday night, a Christian community organisation held at Henleaze and Westbury Community Church on the corner of Albert Place and Eastfield Road.

Youngsters do activities such as football and other games every Friday, finishing at 9pm.

Tim Dobson, the community church's minister, said: "Everyone at the youth group, both children and adults, is very shocked and saddened by what has happened."

Mr Dobson said they had prayed for the family at a service at the Greenbank Centre in Southmead yesterday.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact Avon and Somerset Constabulary on 0845 456 7000, or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.