POLICE are continuing to investigate a freak accident in which a six-year-old girl suffered life-threatening injuries.

The child was attempting to leapfrog a 3ft metal bollard in Quay Hill, Lymington, when it came down on top of her, causing a serious head wound.

As reported in the Daily Echo, locals say they had previously warned Hampshire County Council that the bollard was loose and unsafe.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: "The police were made aware by the ambulance service due to the serious nature of the injury to the child.

"Due to the nature of how the injury was caused the police have a duty to investigate to see if there are any criminal offences disclosed around the state of the bollard."

Officers are understood to have taken statements from traders, some of whom say they raised the alarm after the bollard was damaged by a car three weeks before the accident.

The girl, who comes from Buckinghamshire and was on holiday with her parents, was injured just after 6pm on December 28.

She was taken to Southampton General Hospital with what were described at the time as life-threatening injuries.

No further information about her condition has been released.

Flowers accompanied by "get well soon" messages have been left at the scene.

A county council spokesman said: "The circumstances of the accident are currently being investigated and it would not be appropriate to comment further until those investigations are completed."