A FUND has been set up for two young children who were seriously injured after a wall collapsed on top of them in Bretforton.

The sister and brother, aged seven and four, are in a stable condition and have undergone surgery at Birmingham Children's Hospital after the 10ft high wall came down on them on Monday morning.

The pair, who were walking with their mother along the main road at just before 9am, were air-lifted to hospital.

The horrific incident has left Bretforton and the surrounding areas in shock with the community pulling together to fundraise for the family.

Lucy Bickerstaff, who previously set up the No Limits fund to raise money for Evesham's disabled play equipment, is now heading up an appeal to raise money for the children.

Since Tuesday night, the concerned community has raised almost £200 on the Facebook page Collection and Fund raiser for Bretforton family and helpers, following a suggestion by Sarah Ward.

Donations can be made at The Ambassador and The Bridge Street Kitchen, both in Evesham, or via the Facebook page by sending a message to Mrs Bickerstaff requesting account details.

The money will either be handed straight to the family once they leave hospital or buy a day trip or essentials to give the children a boost.

They also hope to give something to the passers-by who rushed to dig the children from the rubble and held their hands until the emergency services arrived.

Mrs Bickerstaff, from Honeybourne, said: "What has happened to the children is absolutely awful and it would be nice to think we could all show our support for them.

"It will go towards anything they need so it can be one less thing to worry about or treat them to give them a little boost.

"If anyone wants to get involved, they don't have to donate money.

"People are giving items to be raffled or making cards for people to sign for the children.

"There's been lots of concern on the Facebook page and people wanting to help.

"We've heard they have had to have their legs pinned and the sister has a broken arm so they are not going to be up to much.

"I'm hoping to go see them once everything calms down.

"I have three children myself and can't imagine how their parents must be feeling."

The wall collapsed following high winds and heavy rain brought by Storm Imogen on Sunday night.

It had been inspected by a builder recently following a complaint, but had been deemed safe until repair work could be carried out.

A passing lorry driver told how he held the girl's hand while they waited for emergency services to arrive. He praised the quick actions of another passer-by who dug the children out from beneath the rubble.

Two fire engines from Evesham, including the station commander, were at the scene along with the heavy rescue unit from Droitwich.

Station commander Steve Fox said: "All of the emergency services worked closely together to swiftly rescue and treat the children, who were then promptly transferred to hospital via air ambulance to give them the best possible care."

West Midlands Ambulance Service, West Mercia Police, Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance also attended.

Jack Hegarty, managing director of Wychavon District Council, said the owner of the wall had been advised on Tuesday, January 26, to carry out repair work.

"First and foremost our thoughts are with the two children and their families involved in this incident and we wish them a speedy recovery," he said.

"I can confirm a complaint was made to us about the condition of the wall on 22 January, 2016.

"An officer from building control visited the site three days later and the owner was advised on 26 January to carry out work to repair the wall as well as a safety inspection to ensure it posed no immediate risk to the public.

"The owner informed us on 1 February a specialist in dry stone walling had inspected the wall and confirmed there was no immediate danger to the public and repair work would be carried out as soon as the weather improved.

"We take this matter seriously and will review the case to ensure there was nothing more we could have done."

Lloyd Tredell, who owns Bretforton Hall, said: "It is very sad. It is terrible. It shocked me to the core. We have got children of our own.

"It [the wall] has been leaning over. We have plans to rebuild it.

"I have been fully liaising with the chap from the council over the last few months about getting it rebuilt.

"The lorries have caused the problem, that road is so busy now. They have caused the wall to deteriorate but obviously the storm and winds has brought it down.

"We looked at it a few weeks ago and there was no cracking. We would never expect it to be blown over."

Nigel London, aged 60, who lives on Grass Close, near to the fallen wall, said: "We saw the air ambulance come in.

"That wall has been leaning over for a long time. It wasn't just a bit, it was a lot. With all the trucks going round there, they go round so fast and with the vibrations that can't have helped.

"It is a very old wall."