Toddler dies after 'freak accident'

The toddler was declared dead in hospital after going into "cardiac arrest" at the Eton Manor Children's Day Nursery, Chigwell, Essex, said paramedics.

Officials at the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) said they were liaising with police.

"While we don't want to pre-judge the outcome of the investigation, this appears to have been a freak playground accident," said a nursery spokesman.

"At the request of the police, we have not spoken to the members of staff who were in the play area at the time of the incident. We cannot offer further information on the incident at this stage."

He said the thoughts of staff and managers were with the child's family.

"We have informed the families of the other children at Eton Manor of this incident and the nursery is closing as a mark of respect and to facilitate the investigation," the spokesman added. "We are offering counselling to all of those impacted by this tragedy."

Police said they were treating the little girl's death as "unexplained".

The alarm was raised shortly after 11am and officers were trying to establish what had happened.

An ambulance service spokeswoman said paramedics had made "exhaustive efforts" to revive the youngster.