Boy, 2, seriously hurt in nursery playground car crash

A two-year-old boy has been seriously injured and another two children have been hurt after a car crashed into a nursery playground.

A car drove through a fence at the Partou Sunny Days Nursery and Pre-school on Vale Road in the Whitby area of Ellesmere Port in Cheshire at just before 09:55 BST, police said.

The two-year-old boy was seriously hurt after being struck by the car and has been taken to hospital for further treatment. Two other children sustained minor injuries after being hit by fencing.

A 63-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Officers attended the scene alongside colleagues from the North West Ambulance Service and the boy was taken to hospital with "what are thought to be serious injuries".

The children's next of kin have been made aware.

The force said: "Officers are currently on scene and are conducting a number of inquiries to fully establish the circumstances of what is believed to be an isolated incident."

Local MP Justin Madders said he was "deeply saddened" to hear about the incident.

"My thoughts are with the young child who has been seriously injured and their family at what must be an unimaginably difficult time, he said.

"I am also thinking of the other children involved, their families and the nursery staff who have experienced a traumatic incident."

The BBC has contacted Partou Sunny Days Nursery and NWAS for comment.