The fountain at Waltham Forest town hall has been drained to prevent further accidents after a three-year-old boy almost drowned in it.

As thousands of people celebrated the Mela, a celebration of Asian music, dance and culture, on Sunday, a dramatic scene unfolded at the front of the complex in Forest Road.

Tolga Ulasan, 29, was leaving the festival with his girlfriend when he noticed a child in trouble.

Mr Ulasan, of Westward Road in Chingford, who is a deputy manager at Waltham Forest Pool and Track, said his lifeguard training kicked in.

“I was on my way up the driveway when I turned back and saw him. He looked like he was going to fall over, he lost his footing," he said.

Waltham Forest council said the incident was a “one-off”.

For the full story see tomorrow's Waltham Forest Guardian.