A nine-year-old boy has been significantly injured whereas inside an inflatable zorb ball in a park in Southport, Merseyside.

The boy was within the clear plastic ball in an inflatable pool in Victoria Park when it was "unexpectedly raised into the air before it landed on the grass", in accordance with Merseyside Police.

He was taken to hospital by air ambulance and stays there for therapy.

Another zorb with a baby inside additionally floated up on the identical time, however they had been left unhurt.

The incident came about throughout Southport's Food and Drink Festival within the park at about 2pm on Sunday.

Police are investigating the reason for the incident, amid stories that the zorb was blown by a gust of wind.

'Very very scary'

A witness who was close to the inflatable pool when the accident occurred advised Sky News: "There was a huge gust of wind out of nowhere, causing people's umbrellas, drinks and plates to fly about, then the wind ramped up in a split second.

"One youngster was blown out of the pool and the second simply flew up within the air at roughly 100ft (30m) after which landed heavy - we did not see him land, however we noticed him fly up."

They added that it was "very very scary" and that everybody who noticed it was "quite shook up" following the incident.

A spokesperson for Sefton Council stated: "We can confirm that an air ambulance was called to Victoria Park, Southport this afternoon (Sunday 4 June) following an accident within the grounds.

"First support responders from St Johns Ambulance reacted rapidly to supply help to the individual concerned previous to the arrival of different emergency companies.

"Following the incident, a full health and safety inspection has been undertaken at the Southport Food and Drink Festival and the event remains open to the public.

"Our ideas are with these concerned within the accident and we want them a full restoration."