The family, who lived on another farm a few miles away in Gorsgoch, Ceredigion, were transporting sheep on the land at the time and a trailer was attached to the vehicle, the inquest heard.

The car door is thought to have opened while his father was reversing causing Evan to fall on the ground.

The vehicle continued to reverse over him, causing “catastrophic injuries” to his head and skull.

Speaking at the inquest into the death, held at Pembrokeshire Cornoer’s Court in Milford Haven this morning, police sergeant Shane Davies described when he arrived at the scene.

He said: “It was obvious to me that the incident involved only one vehicle – a Land Rover Defender.

“It was towing a trailer.

“It had been reversing backwards down a slope.

“Due to the nature of the manoeuvre, it would have restricted the view of the driver.

“There were obstructions on both sides.

“During this manoeuvre, for an unknown reason, Evan was crushed underneath the offside rear which resulted in catastrophic injuries to his head and skull.”

Sergeant Davies added that the vehicle had been forensically examined since the incident and while it had some “minor faults” these would have been “unrelated” and “not contributory” to the accident.

He said the door had to have been physically operated in order for it to have opened.

“I don’t believe the door was faulty,” added Sergeant Davies.

“This was a terrible tragedy and Evan’s family have my heartfelt sympathy”

Mark Layton

“In my opinion it had been securely fastened. For some unknown reason the door of the Land Rover had opened and the child fell from it or otherwise left the vehicle.

“At which time the vehicle has continued to reverse backwards and over his skull.”

Summing up the case, the coroner for Carmarthenshire, Mark Layton, consoled the Williams family, who were in tears at the rear of the court.

“Thank you to Evan’s parents for attending this inquest today,” said Mr Layton.

“This was a terrible tragedy and Evan’s family have my heartfelt sympathy.”

A jury at the inquest returned a conclusion of accidental death.

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