A schoolboy has been airlifted to hospital after suffering severe burns at a nativity event in a church.
A man and a woman were also treated for less severe burns after a Christmas tree or decorations is believed to have caught fire at a school carol service.
The boy was at the event for children aged seven to 11 being held at Addiscombe Catholic Church. The Sun has reported he is a pupil at St Thomas Becket Catholic School, in Croydon, South London.
Police, ambulances and the air ambulance rushed to the church in Croydon and a witness described a group of schoolchildren in nativity costumes being escorted from the building.
A shopkeeper told the Sun: “The boy’s father came in here afterwards and was crying, really upset saying my son my son.”
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A local person told the paper: “I just saw the ambulances and helicopter, there were a lot of schoolchildren outside the church just after it happened.
“My daughter has dance classes at the community centre at the hall, and they have been cancelled because of what happened but no one has told us exactly what the incident was.
“It’s horrible, they were probably practising for ages, for months for the concert.”
The young child's next of kin have been informed.
The witness, who wishes to remain anonymous, told MyLondon: "A load of primary children were coming out of the church in nativity costumes."
The name of the school has not yet been confirmed.
The air ambulance has landed behind the Oasis Academy in Shirley Park, a witness has confirmed. Police are also stationed near Bingham Road.
Local sources have suggested the horror accident happened when a Christmas tree or decorations caught fire.
Met Police have taped off the church, also known as Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, on Bingham Road, Croydon, this afternoon.
The emergency services were called at around 2.21pm alongside the London Ambulance Service and London Air ambulance.
A police spokesperson told MyLondon : "Officers are assisting with an incident at a Croydon church.
"Police were called by London Ambulance Service at 2.21pm on Wednesday, December 11 to Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, Bingham Road, Croydon.
"A young boy was reported to have received serious burns during a Christmas event.
"One adult was also reported to have received burn injuries, these are not believed to be serious.
"London Air Ambulance and LAS attended the scene. The child has been taken to hospital, his next of kin have been informed.
"London Fire Brigade and Health and Safety Executive have also been informed. Enquiries continue."
A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We were called at 2.10pm today to reports of an incident on Bingham Road, Croydon.
"We dispatched two ambulance crews, an emergency responder, a medic in a car and an incident response officer to the scene.
"We also dispatched a trauma team from London's Air Ambulance.
"We treated three people at the scene for burns including a child, a man and a woman.
"We took the child to hospital by air and we took the man and the woman to hospital by road."
