A Richmond schoolboy has been airlifted to hospital from a Richmond school after furniture collapsed in the playground.

The boy, in year one, was seriously injured towards the end of lunchtime break at around 12.56pm at the Vineyard School, in Friars Stile Road, on Wednesday 21 March.

In a statement, the school said it had removed all three similar tables and benches so they can be investigated by a health and safety executive.

There is no update on the condition of the child other than they are seriously ill and in a major trauma hospital.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We sent an incident response officer, a single responder in a car and an ambulance crew.

“We also dispatched our hazardous area response team (HART) and London’s Air Ambulance by helicopter.

“We treated a person at the scene and took them by helicopter to a major trauma centre as a priority.”

A hazardous area response team is used for confined spaces that may include unstable collapsed structures.

Headteacher Ruth Whymark said: “There was an incident at our school on Wednesday March 21 at the end of lunchtime play where a Year One child was injured.

“Our first concern is for the child and our thoughts and prayers are with their family at this time.

“We are working closely with Achieving for Children who are providing support for children in the school, the family of the child and our staff.”

Councillor Paul Hodgins, leader of Richmond Council, said: “Our sincere thoughts are with the parents and family of the pupil at this very sad time.

“On the day of the accident, I visited the school and offered the Council’s full support to the pupil, their family, teachers and fellow pupils.

“The Council and Achieving for Children are working closely with the school, including Children’s Services, educational psychologists and the health and safety team.”