Tree that killed child was propped up for decades

Inspections of the tree have been taking place in the park on Monday

A tree that collapsed and killed a seven-year-old girl had been propped up by supports for decades, a senior councillor has said.

Hundreds of bunches of flowers and other tributes have been left in Chalkwell Park in Southend-on-Sea following Saturday's incident, which also seriously injured a girl aged six.

City councillor and Conservative group leader, James Courtenay, said he had memories of playing near the tree as a child in the 1990s, with the wooden supports being eventually upgraded to metal ones.

An investigation is under way into what happened, with inspections of the tree taking place on Monday.

The tree collapsed on Saturday afternoon while children were underneath it

Up to 50 people tried to lift the tree when it trapped five children underneath it shortly before 15:00 BST, witnesses told the BBC.

Assistant Chief Constable Lucy Morris said the six-year-old girl was receiving "around-the-clock care" in hospital, surrounded by her family.

The remaining three youngsters have been treated for minor injuries.

Speaking to the BBC, Courtenay shared his condolences and well-wishes for the little girl in hospital.

He said he had been visiting the park for 40 years and had memories of playing there.

"When I was a child I remember it having wooden supports back in the 1990s," he said.

He added it had since had metal bars holding it up for many years.

Players from Westcliff Cricket Club were some of the first to attempt to lift the tree after it fell.

Mr Courtenay said: "It really must have taken half the cricket team with others to move it.

"It's absolutely huge branches for a tree that's hundreds of years old."

People have been paying their respects to the children

Jessie Huggins, 31, lives in the area and said she wanted to pay her respects.

"I've got children myself and I think that it could have been anyone's little one that day," she said.

"You can see the tree from here and it must have been absolutely terrifying, what people must have been going through at the time.

"We could have been here that day playing in the park. I send my love to the families who were involved."

Another local resident Carol Sheil, 66, brought her two-year-old granddaughter to lay flowers.

She said she has been born and raised in the area and had seen generations of her family play under the tree.

"It's just heartbreaking, it could have happened to anybody, anyone could've been in that position," she said.

"We just feel sorry for the families."

'Tiny gesture'

Another local man, Stephen Goodsell, left flowers at the scene on Sunday.

"As a father and a grandfather, you ache for the parents of the children involved," said the 67-year-old.

"I've not been able to sleep since hearing the news.

"This is just a tiny gesture to show the love we feel for the children, the family and everyone that's suffering, because we're suffering too."

Bev Noakes, who has also left a floral tribute, said: "There's lots of people who witnessed it, young children who witnessed it and it must be awful."

Floral tributes have been left around another tree at the park where the girl was killed

David Burton-Sampson, Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, said: "For somebody so young to lose their life in such a tragic situation is really heartbreaking.

"Both myself and the rest of the community are devastated."

The park, west of the city centre, is run by Southend-on-Sea City Council.

Labour leader of the council Daniel Cowan said: "This was a traumatic event for those involved, those who witnessed the incident and the emergency services.

"I encourage those affected to seek support.

"It's absolutely heartbreaking to see floral tributes surrounded by teddy bears.

"It really reminds you what exactly was lost here."

He said the council would be co-operating with police as their investigation continued.

A spokesperson from the Health and Safety Executive said: "Our inspectors will be visiting the site as we continue to support Essex Police."