"Every time my heart beats, I miss him."

So said Zoe Law, paying tribute to her son, Christopher Allum, who was killed in a road accident in Ramsgate at the weekend.

She and his father, policeman George Allum, have paid tribute to a lad they say was "always happy".

Christopher, 17, was knocked down by a car in Holly Road on Saturday afternoon, September 19, and died later in the QEQM hospital, Margate.

He was a former pupil of St Mary's School in Faversham and then went onto St Lawrence College in Ramsgate, where he nursed ambitions of becoming a car designer - his passion. Indeed he had only just passed his test.

"Christopher was a unique human being who will be very much missed by us all and he leaves behind him a massive void that will never be filled," said his mum Zoe Law, of South Road in Faversham. "He had an amazing sense of humour and had us in stitches on a regular basis.

"We would like to say thank you to the pupils and staff at St Lawrence College for all the care that they have given Chris over the years and now of course for their support of his family. Also thank you to everyone for the fantastic and touching tributes they have made to him."

His family said that they thought Christopher didn't even realise how much her had touched people;

His brother Philip, 15, and sister, Rachael, 15, sorely miss their special big brother.

Zoe said: "Every time my heart beats I miss him. When we feel low he will be there to encourage us, I know."

His dad, George Allum, is a police officer based at Margate Police Station. He added: "All of Chris's family are devastated at his loss. We were all so very proud of the lovely, caring young man Chris was growing into.

"We would like to say thank you to the emergency services and hospital staff and those people in Holly Road who tried to save him on Saturday and we have been overwhelmed by the sympathy and support shown by friends and colleagues."

An inquest was opened and adjourned into his death on Tuesday.