A POLICE investigation has been launched after an eight-year-old fell from a zip wire and suffered serious injuries in Winchester.

The boy was using the zip wire at the Dean Park play area in Weeke before he fell to the ground, hitting his head.

He was then taken to Southampton General Hospital but has since been discharged.

Hampshire Constabulary are investigating the incident, which happened at about 5pm on March 25 on the recreation ground just off Stockbridge Road.

They today appealed for anyone who saw the boy fall to get in touch. It was unclear why the statement was issued two weeks afater the event.

Anyone with information should contact PC Rebecca Swan on 101, quoting 44160128664.

The play area is owned by Winchester City Council and was updated around ten years ago.

This afternoon county councillor Martin Tod, who lives near the park, said: “It is very worrying. People need to have absolute confidence that Winchester play areas are safe. We need to get on to the issue to find out how it can be avoided.”

City councillor Anne Weir said: "I know that council officers are taking it very seriously to understand why it happened. Clearly any accidents where a child is injured has to be taken very seriously and I believe that it is being taken seriously."