Schoolgirl killed by falling tree

Children were queuing to go back into a classroom

An eight-year-old schoolgirl has been killed and three others injured when a tree collapsed on them in a primary school playground.

The children were in the playground at West Ashtead County Primary School near Epsom in Surrey when the tree came down in their lunch hour.

Rianna Davenport, who lived in the Leatherhead area, was trapped beneath the Corsican pine - she died at the scene.

Another child who was also trapped suffered a broken leg - two others have minor injuries.

'Terrible tragedy'

The tree collapsed to the ground where a group of Year 3 children were queuing to return inside from their lunch break.

Seven-year-old Necreen Samre, said: "The tree just fell down with a big bang and everyone rushed to the classrooms. It was very frightening - just a huge crash."

Rianna had been queueing for lunch with friends

Matthew Harrop, 11, said: "Everybody was playing and then suddenly there was this huge crack - it was like thunder, like when the earth cracks open - and people started shrieking.

"I turned round and the tree was coming vertically down. Everybody was running and there were a few children trapped underneath."

Nadine Guymer, who arrived at the school to collect her two daughters, said: "Everyone is in absolute panic and very scared.

"My first reaction was panic I just wanted to get here and get my daughters home."

'Terrible tragedy'

John Quigley, the local education officer for Surrey County Council, said: "This is a tragic day for the school and our sympathies go out to the parents of Rhianna and the other three children who were injured.

Mr Quigley said Rianna had an elder sister at the school and another younger sibling.

Experts are now at the scene assessing damage to the school buildings.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Parker, from Surrey Police, said: "The Health and Safety Executive are coming out tomorrow. The tree will be taken away, parts of the tree will be preserved and they will be examined in due course.

"This is not being treated as a criminal investigation. From what I've seen this afternoon, it is a tragic accident."

The school will be closed on Friday.