Girl in stable condition after fatal tree collapse

A witness estimated that as many as 50 people tried to lift the tree off the children who were trapped

A six-year-old girl who was critically injured when a tree partially collapsed - killing her cousin - is now in a stable condition, police have said.

A large branch dropped from a tree in Chalkwell Park in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, on 28 June, falling on five children.

Seven-year-old Leonna Ruka from Dagenham in east London - who was visiting her extended family in Southend - was fatally injured.

Essex Police said her cousin remained in hospital but was no longer in a critical condition.

A witness estimated that as many as 50 people tried to lift the branch that had cracked and fallen to the ground.

Three other children were sent to hospital with minor injuries.

Leonna was visiting her family in Southend-on-Sea when the incident happened

In a statement released soon after her death, Leonna's family described her as a "light in our lives".

The family also said they were grateful for all of the tributes paid to their "precious" daughter.

Hundreds of bunches of flowers and children's toys were laid near the scene by members of the public.

The tree was identified as a form of cedar and is about 350 years old.

There had been metal poles propped underneath some of the lower branches for decades, according to a local councillor, although an investigation is still being carried out into what happened.