A DEVASTATED mother has revealed she has told the van driver who knocked down and killed her son that she has forgiven him.

Frances Healy's life fell apart when her son Anthony, aged 9, was struck by a reversing van on a road near his home.

Delivery driver Blair Fearn had missed his turn off and didn't see the schoolboy behind the vehicle in Westhill.

The 26-year-old stopped when he heard a thump on the back door then saw rollerblades underneath the van reflected in his side mirrors.

Mr Fearn went on trial accused of causing tragic Anthony's death by careless driving but was cleared by a jury on Thursday.

Miss Healy attended the trial and left the court room in tears after the not proven verdict was read out.

But she had approached Mr Fearn and his family while the jury was deliberating, something she has been waiting to do for two years.

The mother-of-four said: "I did approach him, which was very brave. I introduced myself and shook his hand, and his mum gave me a hug.

"It was very difficult. I did say to him that I had a feeling he wouldn't be going anywhere."I'm satisfied but I'm not satisfied, because I did want him to get some sort of punishment but not crucified."Anthony was rollerblading to his friend's house when the accident happened in the Aberdeen suburb on July 20, 2012.

The aspiring astronaut was on his way to play Xbox games and was carrying his controller at the time.

Mr Fearn didn't see him coming out of a nearby lane and by the time he realised what had happened it was too late.

The schoolboy died at the scene of the accident and the road was closed for several hours as police carried out investigations at the site.

During the trial, police sergeant Steven Manson described marks under the van where the rollerblades had scuffed. And police also discovered problems with the rear facing camera which activated when reversing."