A 15-year-old schoolboy has died after being hit by a bus.

The boy, from Brighton, was hit head-on by the Number 6 just before 1am on Saturday morning.

Paramedics were called to the scene of the crash, in Marine Parade in Brighton just opposite Bloomsbury Place, at 12.51am.

They rushed the boy to the Royal Sussex County Hospital but he was declared dead at 1.19am. His family has been informed.

The road was closed overnight to allow investigators to work and by 9am this morning the scene remained cordoned off with blue scene of crime tents erected.

The front window of the bus shows massive damage consistent with a head-on collision with someone crossing the road in front of the vehicle.

Brighton & Hove Buses managing director Martin Harris said: “In the early hours of this morning, a terrible accident occurred involving one of our buses.

"A pedestrian – just a young teenager – was struck by a bus just before 1.00 a.m.

“This took place on the A259 coast road near Burlington Street in Brighton on the westbound carriageway.

“The poor young lad who was struck tragically died in hospital later.

"We are all very saddened by this awful news and our thoughts are with his family and friends who must be absolutely devastated.

“We have begun a thorough internal investigation into this terrible incident and are supporting the police in their accident investigation.

“The Police have taken control of the bus for examination – as is appropriate for such serious incidents - and the bus CCTV footage leading up to the incident will be carefully reviewed.

“Our driver is utterly distraught. We are giving him our complete support during this awful time for all concerned.”

Sussex Police have requested that witnesses contact them online or via 101, quoting Operation Rivington.

Did you see what happened? Were you on the bus? Contact joel.adams@theargus.co.uk.