A nine-year-old boy from the Shropshire border who was hit by two cars, one of which failed to stop, has died in hospital.

Robert James Gaunt, from Overton, near Ellesmere, died at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool on Saturday, two days after he suffered head injuries and multiple fractures when he was struck by two cars on the A539 on the outskirts of Overton. Two people were arrested after the tragic collision and today remained in police custody.

Robert’s parents, Dawn Richards and Robert Jones, today paid tribute to their son, who they described as a “lovely lad”.

In a statement they said: “He had an outgoing personality and like any other lad was popular in the village. He is going to be missed by all his friends in Overton and Penycae and also by his school friends at St Christopher’s.

“He will be especially missed by his mother and father, his brothers and sisters and all his relatives and close friends.

“We would like to thank all the staff at Wrexham Maelor and Alder Hey hospitals as well as the people who helped at the scene – especially Dr Karlakki and Dr Lim and all the police and ambulance crews.”

Graham Crofts, the partner of Robert’s mother, said: “He was a very lively, leader of the gang, little lad. All his friends at school are missing him and all his friends in the village who witnessed it happen.”

Robert was either riding or pushing a bike on the A539 Overton Road near Erbistock when he was struck by the first car. Police believe that as a result of the first collision he was then struck by a second car which was travelling in the opposite direction.

The driver of the second vehicle remained at the scene but the first motorist did not stop.

A spokeswoman for North Wales police said: “A man aged 61 and a woman aged 58, both from the Wrexham area, have been arrested and are currently being held in custody.”

She added: “A silver Jaguar vehicle has been recovered which is believed to have been in a collision matching the nature of that being investigated.”

By Deborah Collins and Rhea Parsons