MESSAGES of support have been paid by councillors for two children seriously injured when a wall collapsed on top of them in Bretforton.

The youngsters, aged seven and nine, had been walking along the village's main road near the junction of New Street and Honeybourne Road when a 10ft section of wall crumbled and trapped them.

Members of the public dug the children, a boy, aged four, and girl, aged seven, from the rubble while the emergency services rushed to the scene.

The four-year-old was flown to Birmingham Children's Hospital by air ambulance with serious leg and back injuries, while the seven-year-old was taken by land ambulance to the same hospital with severe leg and facial injuries.

On Tuesday afternoon, the hospital confirmed both children had been into surgery and both were in a stable condition.

Councillor Keith Wright, Wychavon District Council ward member for Bretforton and Offenham, said: "Our thoughts are with the children who were caught under the wall and their families."

Robert Davis, chair of Bretforton Parish Council, said: "On behalf of the Parish Council we are really very upset that this has happened and wish the children a speedy recovery. It is just terrible.

"It is a very sad accident. I only hope that the children fully recover."

The wall, which belongs to privately-owned Bretforton Hall, collapsed following high winds and heavy rain brought by Storm Imogen on Sunday night.

It is said to have been leaning for some time before it collapsed on Monday.

It had been inspected by a builder recently following a complaint, but had been deemed safe until repair work could be carried out.

Wychavon District Council has launched an immediate review into the handling of the issue.