Two children hurt after car crashes into pedestrians at Christmas market

Two young children, including a baby, have been taken to hospital after a car crashed into a group of pedestrians at a Christmas market.

South Western Ambulance Service received a call at 11:58 GMT on Sunday regarding the incident on the High Street in Chipping Sodbury, near Bristol. Five adults were also hurt.

Avon and Somerset Police said a man - believed to be in his 80s - collided with pedestrians at a low-speed while manoeuvring out of a parking space.

A spokesperson said that despite the large emergency response no one is currently described as having either life-threatening or life-changing injuries.

Five ambulances, an air ambulance, and several other resources were dispatched to the market town, which is around 18 miles (29km) miles north-east of Bristol.

Seven pedestrians, including five adults and two children, were assessed by paramedics at the scene.

In a statement posted to Facebook, the organisers confirmed the Christmas Sunday event was still ongoing, despite the injuries.

They said: "We have been advised by the police not to cancel today's event, so the remainder of the High Street from Hobbs House Bakery down towards Broad Street and Horse Street is still open.

"We would ask anyone attending today to please not take photos of the incident, and not speculate on social media as we work the emergency services to help those people who need assistance."

The event began at 11:00 GMT and is due to finish at 17:30 GMT.

Esra Ward, who is running a pizza stall at the market, saw the whole thing unfold.

“We were just talking with the customers in front of our van," she said.

"The car was parked, and suddenly we saw him accelerate coming out of his parking space and hit a couple of people.

“There was a mum with a baby in a pushchair in front of the car. Apparently at the back he has hit a few more people, a family. They had ambulances and police and fire all here in about five minutes."