Several people are believed to be in a critical condition after being pulled from a frozen lake in Solihull.

They are thought to have been playing on the iced-over surface at Babbs Mill Park in Kingshurst before falling through when it cracked.

West Midlands Police said emergency services are at the scene of a ‘serious incident’, with specialist rescue teams recovering a ‘number of people’ from the water.

Emergency services remain on the scene and the fire service said ‘the incident is still a search and rescue operation’.

West Midlands Fire Service said: ‘At 2.36pm on Sunday, December 11, West Midlands Fire Service, along with West Midlands Ambulance Service and West Midlands Police, were called to Babbs Mill Park in Solihull.

‘Reports from the scene and videos on social media indicate that people had been playing on the ice on a pond and had fallen through. Our specialist water rescue teams arrived and acted assertively to take control of the scene and carry out rescues using specialist equipment and entering the water.

‘Casualties have received medical support at the scene from both firefighters and ambulance personnel prior to being taken to nearby hospitals.

‘The incident is still a search and rescue operation, being led by West Midlands Fire Service. We would ask people to allow emergency services at the scene to go about their work in a safe and effective way.

‘We will release further details when appropriate with our fellow blue-light partners.’

Babbs Mill Park is a local nature reserve with a lake, river, wildflower grasslands and woodlands.

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