FIREFIGHTERS were called after a burst water main caused a ceiling to "come down" at a children's hospital ward.

The incident took place at around 9.30pm yesterday at the Riverbank Unit at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, in Worcester.

A section of the ceiling came down in a corridor at the ward and the area was flooded. 

All of the patients were safely moved to other areas of the hospital and cared for overnight.

Paula Paling, from the Battenhall area of Worcester, was at the ward with her 14-year-old daughter when the alarm was raised.

"The whole of the ceiling came through and there was water everywhere," said the 45-year old.

"As we walked into the ward the fire alarms went off and there was just complete pandemonium. They just told us to wait in the assessment bay.

"The fire engine arrived and they were bringing children through into the bay where we were.

"They were moving patients because the ceiling had come down. As far as I know everyone was fine.

"There was a black out, they had no light. They were preparing to move the patients to another ward.

"They [the hospital staff] were brilliant. In terms of how they handled the situation last night they really do need to be rewarded.

"The speed at which they moved the patients, they just pulled together as a team - they were brilliant."

A spokesman for the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Overnight we experienced a flood in Riverbank - our children’s ward at Worcestershire Royal Hospital - which was caused by a burst pipe. 

"All of the patients were safely moved and cared for by our specialist clinical teams in other areas of the hospital overnight whilst works to repair the area started immediately.

"Thanks to estates and facilities teams working through the night to repair the leak and flooded area we have been able to open the majority of the ward this morning and the plan is that all of the patients will be moved back in today.”

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) confirmed it was called to the hospital at 9.33pm on Monday night.

Firefighters from Worcester Fire Station isolated the burst water main and helped to clear up the ward.