Girl, 2, found in Kingsley Pond in serious condition

Steve Humphrey & Indy Almroth-Wright
BBC South
BBC Kingsley PondBBC
Police were called to search for the toddler shortly after 17:00 on Sunday

A two-year-old girl is in a serious condition in hospital after being found in a village pond.

The girl was reported missing from her home on Forge Road, Kingsley, near Bordon, at about 17:00 BST on Sunday.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said following a search the toddler was found in nearby Kingsley Pond.

The force said officers remained in the area trying to establish the circumstances of the incident.

Kingsley Pond off Forge Road
The two-year-old was found in the large village pond near her home, police said

On Sunday night, a nearby car park was filled with about a dozen police cars as officers gathered to search for the missing toddler.

Resident Natasha Shaw said: "I saw the ambulance and the paramedics were literally running with their grab bags.

"I saw about five or six police cars and a van - I knew by then something serious had happened.

"My heart goes out to the family. I just hope that little girl's OK."

Cordons placed around the pond had been lifted on Monday morning and there was little evidence of the large-scale incident the evening before.

The large pond, located just under 100m (328ft) from the closest homes on Forge Road, measures about 175m (574ft) long and 72m (236ft) wide.

Many of the villagers learned of the incident when they attended a service at the neighbouring church.

Rev Matt Boyes, vicar of All Saints Church, said: "As a parish we are praying for the family and all those involved in this situation.

"It's every parent's nightmare for this to be happening and the impact on the wider community will be very huge as well."

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