POLICE investigating the death of a two-year-old girl at a nursery in Chigwell have revealed that the incident is thought to have happened while the girl was playing in a playhouse.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "Although the investigation is still in its very early stages initial inquiries suggest it was the result of childrens' activity involving a playhouse that took a tragic turn."

Emergency services were called to Eton Manor Children's Day Nursery in Roding Lane shortly after 11am yesterday.

The girl had gone into cardiac arrest but despite the best efforts of paramedics and staff at Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, she was certified dead just 40 minutes after the first emergency call was made.

A post mortem examination is due to be carried out today.

In a statement released yesterday afternoon the nursery said it believed the death was the result of a "freak playground accident".

The nursery is remaining closed today as a mark of respect to the youngster and to allow police and other agencies to continue their investigations into exactly what happened.

Essex Police said it would be liaising with the nursery, Ofsted and the Health and Safety Executive.

The management of the nursery and the directors of Casterbridge Care and Education, in its statement, added: "Our thoughts are with the child's family at this terrible time.

"We are obviously co-operating fully with the Essex Police investigation. While we don't want to pre-judge the outcome of the investigation this appears to have been a freak playground accident.

"At the request of the police we have not spoken to the members of staff who were in the play area at the time of the incident. We cannot offer further information on the incident at this stage.

"It is a position of great privilege and responsibility to care for children and the safety and security of those children is of the utmost importance to us. We have informed the families of the other children at Eton Manor of this incident and the nursery is closing as a mark of respect and to facilitate the investigation.

"We are offering counselling to all of those impacted by this tragedy."