Chalkwell Park tree was 'propped up by metal poles' before collapsing and crushing girl, 7, to death

The giant tree which crushed a seven-year-old girl to death was being held up by metal poles, and benches underneath the low-hanging branches "encouraged" children to climb on it, locals have claimed.

Another six-year-old child remains in a critical condition after the tree collapsed in a park in Southend-on-Sea, leaving the community devastated. Three more children playing beneath it also required hospital treatment after the tree suddenly fell in Chalkwell Park shortly before 3pm yesterday.

Heroes alerted by the screams after a "large crash" rushed to help remove the huge branches but one youngster died, despite the efforts of medics. Now questions are being asked of Southend-on-Sea City Council by furious locals, who claim it even installed benches under the tree, which was propped up by poles.

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Around 50 people attempted to lift the fallen trunk after it trapped the children enjoying an afternoon in the sunshine. Members of the public continue to lay flowers as police conduct enquiries with investigations seeking to establish the circumstances leading up to the heartbreaking incident.

Angry residents have sent Mirror Online images of the a heavy branch being kept in the air by black pole, with locals rushing to Facebook to express their fury as well as their devastation at the girl's death. Steven Nesh wrote: "Clearly it was too big to supports its own weight & unfortunately someone's family has had to suffer the consequences of their negligence."

Rhea Mae Westfall added: "Council/park owners should be covering the cost of the funeral and compensating all families involved. It's clear this tree has been a danger for quite some time," while Anne Bell put: "The council need to start maintaining all trees around Southend. As this should never have happened. My thoughts are with you all. Fly high little angel."

Dean Bailey posted: "It should have been cut down rather than propped up…" Meanwhile, Mimi Faria added: "That bough should have been cut off instead of usuing a pole to hold it. That is sheer negligence and someone must take responsibility."

Lesley Gold, another local resident, said: "The council should have done something about it we have now lost a little girl and other children have been hurt I can't imagine what the families are feeling." Diana Zachau slammed the council, saying: "How utterly not acceptable to pass this off as an an avoidable accident. I am sure the council did not want to splash out on having the trees inspected by tree surgeons and now children had to pay for the budget mismanagement."

Steve Ives, 68, walks through the park every day and told the BBC: "The tree has been propped up by the metal props ever since I can remember. The boughs are just so huge. It always looked healthy and people stood under it and chatted. It's such an awful thing to happen."

The council said this morning: “This was a devastating incident and our thoughts remain with everyone affected. As this is an ongoing investigation, we won’t be commenting further or pre-empting its findings.”

Council leader Daniel Cowan said in a statement last night: "The death of a child is devastating and my deepest, most heartfelt condolences are with the child's family and friends. My thoughts are also with the injured children and those on the scene. I hope the other children make a full and speedy recovery.

"This was a traumatic event for those involved, those who witnessed the incident, and the emergency services. I encourage those affected to seek support." Southend's mayor, Councillor Nigel Folkard, added: "I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of a young life following the incident in Chalkwell Park.

"As both Mayor and a Chalkwell councillor, my thoughts are with the child's family, friends, and all those affected. I ask our community to come together in support and compassion during this incredibly difficult time." Mirror Online have contacted the council for further comment but said on Saturday: "Our thoughts are with all those affected and we will provide further updates as soon as possible."

Among the witnesses was accountant Ishan Madan, 39, from Westcliff-on-Sea, who said he was playing in a cricket match nearby when he heard a “horrendous, screeching scream”.

He said his team immediately ran towards the clubhouse where the tree was located, finding several children hit by a branch, two of whom were "stuck under this massive tree". He said: “Everyone ran towards the clubhouse, where the tree is. The tree had snapped and I think there were four children, the fifth one was slightly further away, I think she’d be hit by a branch.

"Two of them were under a smaller branch, they were rescued easily, and unfortunately, the other two girls, they were stuck under this massive tree.

“So we got bystanders to help, it must have been 40 to 50 people who then tried to lift the fallen tree up and to our horror, these two little girls, poor girls, were stuck underneath it. Their mother was on the corner. It was horrendous.”