Village pays tribute after child's death

"Sympathy and prayers" have been offered by locals to the family of a five-year-old child who died in Badsey, Worcestershire.

West Mercia Police said officers responded to reports of a missing child in the village on Wednesday.

The child was found unresponsive in a body of water and was pronounced dead a short time later.

Joanna Fielding, priest-in-charge of the East Vale and Avon Benefice, which includes St James' Church in Badsey, said: "This absolutely shows the importance of community."

She continued: "It's really lovely that we still have safe public spaces where people can come together and show their support.

"I think that happens in physical spaces such as church halls and village halls, but I've noticed people expressing their sympathy online as well.

"It's wonderful to see, even in these really sad circumstances, people reaching out with kindness, love and sympathy."

The opening hours of St James' Church have been extended to allow people to pay tribute.

Fielding said: "We have a beautiful little candle stand and we moved it to a more prominent place. We also put out extra candles.

"By the time I locked up at nine o'clock last night, every candle had been lit."

West Mercia Police said the child was believed to have drowned and described it as "an incredibly tragic incident", adding there was no third-party involvement in the death.

The force also asked the public to avoid speculation online, saying: "This is incredibly distressing for the family and we ask that their privacy is respected at such a difficult time."

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