A 10 year-old girl struck by a car when it drove onto a sports pitch earlier this month tragically died from fatal head injuries, an inquest has heard. Manchester United-obsessed Poppy Atkinson was enjoying a football training session at Kendal Rugby Union Football Club, in Cumbria, in the early evening of 5th March when she was hit by the BMW i4 electric car.

On Monday Poppy's heartbroken parents, Ben and Clare and seven-year-old brother Edward, joined family, friends and well-wishers as her home town turned Man United red for her funeral at Kendal Parish Church. A day later, acting senior coroner for Cumbria Kirsty Gomersal opened an inquest into Poppy’s death at Cumbria Coroner’s Court in Cockermouth.

The brief hearing - not attended by her mum and dad - was told how the youngster’s death was confirmed at the scene in Shap Road by paramedics at 5.12pm, shortly after the collision.

Ms Gomersal added that a post-mortem examination was later carried out with a provisional cause of death given as head injuries.

The senior coroner told family solicitor Emily Taylor to pass on her "deepest condolences" to Poppy’s family and friends.

She said she would suspend the inquest as she understood that police inquiries were ongoing. No date was fixed for a further coronial hearing.

A 40-year-old man from Lancaster, arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, has been released under investigation.

Cumbria Constabulary previously said the collision - which also left an eight year-old girl injured in hospital - was not thought to be a deliberate act.

Part of the metal fencing on the all-weather pitch perimeter, near to a parking bay, was flattened by the vehicle.

During Monday's emotional funeral service hundreds of people lined the streets and watched on in silence, some wiping away tears, as the cortege passed en route to the church.

The youngster’s coffin sported a poignant artist’s impression of the youngster, with a football by her side, in a poppy field looking ahead to Old Trafford’s “Theatre of Dreams” stadium with the sun on the horizon.

Following Poppy’s death, her family said the schoolgirl, who was in the under-12s team at Kendal United and also played at county level, was "100 per cent determined to be a professional footballer".

They added: "Many who know her, and who know her determination to improve and win, had no doubt she would achieve her goal to one day to play for Manchester United.

"Poppy touched so many lives, it was easy to see why. Her energy, character, spirit and passion for football was infectious and touched huge numbers of people."