Five children have been taken to hospital after they were hit by a falling tree in an Essex park.
The incident in Southend sparked a major response from emergency services. Air ambulances, fire crews and police rushed to Chalkwell Park on Saturday afternoon after being alerted to a "serious incident" just before 3pm.
Two of the children are believed to have severe injuries.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Essex police said: "We remain on the scene of a serious incident at Chalkwell Park in Southend.
"Officers, alongside ambulance and fire service colleagues, are responding. We were alerted shortly before 3pm to reports of a tree falling in the park.
"There have been a number of casualties and our work at the scene is ongoing.
"We would please ask the public to avoid this area where possible while this work continues.
"Updates will be issued as soon as is possible."
The East of England Ambulance Service, that attended the scene, said: "Six ambulances, three ambulance officer vehicles, the London Air Ambulance and Kent Air Ambulance were sent to the scene.
"Two children were transported by road to Southend University Hospital. A further three children were later transported by road to the same hospital with minor injuries.”
